August 2010 - Choctaw Nation

Transcription

A flute
maker
at work
Hooser
honors
heritage
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bisKinik
p.O. Box 1210
Durant OK 74702
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CHANGE service requested
Presort STD
AUTO
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
CHOCTAW NATION
Veteran’s
honor
flight
A
potter’s
passion
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BISKINIK
The Official Publication of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
August 2010 Issue
Serving 202,205 Choctaws Worldwide
Choctaws ... growing with pride, hope and success
BISKINIK – The Choctaw news bird
On July 10 the Choctaw
Nation Tribal Council approved a bill that corrected the
spelling of the tribal newspaper, Biskinik. Named after
the little news bird of Choctaw legend, the Biskinik
has always been a free service
to all tribal members and will
continue to be a link among Choctaws wherever
they live in the world.
The Tribal Council of the 1970s chose the
name Biskinik for the newspaper since it was
a news bird. Unfortunately, the spelling was
incorrect by one letter. With the revival of culture and language, the Council passed legislation turning the H into a K so that BISHINIK is
turned into BISKINIK.
The Legend
According to Choctaw legend, two birds –
Biskinik (a small, speckled species of woodpecker) and Folichik (the scissortail fly catcher)
were the only two birds to escape drowning during the “returning waters” (the Choctaw term
for the Great Flood). In the Choctaw legend,
when the great waters came crashing, there was
a lone man, on a raft, who survived. Biskinik
and Folichik accompanied this lone man, who
floated on his raft for many moons. The birds
became tired and perched upside down on the
sky to rest. The waters became rough and the
waves were so high that the waves reached the
birds and actually split the tailfeathers!
After many days and nights, Biskinik finally
brought the man a leaf from a tree and led him
to land. When the raft was safely on ground,
Folichik, turned into a beautiful woman. Biskinik remained a bird and always stayed near the
camp, warning of danger and also bringing good
news.
To the Choctaw, Biskinik, the friendliest of
birds, was accorded special treatment and became known as “the little Chahta news bird.”
Biskinik would live around Choctaw homes
and let them know whenever someone was approaching. The friendly little woodpecker was
also believed to accompany hunting parties or
war parties when they went into the field.
Biskinik would warn the warriors of the approach of an enemy, or would indicate to them
when game was near and in which direction they
should travel to find this game. Should an enemy force approach an encampment of Choctaw
warriors during the night, Biskinik would warn
them by tapping out messages on trees around
the camp.
Not only is the tribal newspaper changing its
name, but it is also stepping into the 21st Century with the development of an online version.
The Biskinik E-News will be available as a
newsletter for anyone, members and non-members alike, to be received via email. Keep watching for an announcement for the kick-off of the
Biskinik E-News!
Chief Gregory E. Pyle and the staff of the
tribal newspaper strive to bring news to each
Choctaw about what other Choctaws are doing.
Please welcome BiskiniK into your homes
as your monthly “news bird” from other Choctaws.
Tribal
Council
holds July
session
The Choctaw Nation
Tribal Council met in regular session on July 10.
New business included
presentation of a language
certificate to Bonnie Horn
who will be teaching at the
Choctaw Community Center in Durant on Wednesdays. See photo on Page 7.
A Council Bill was approved correcting the spelling of the tribal newspaper
to BISKINIK.
Other Council Bills
on the agenda that were
addressed and approved
included:
• Applications to the U.S.
Department of Transportation for Surface Transportation Infrastructure; the U.S.
Administration for Children
and Families for the Affordable Care Act Tribal
Maternal, Infant and Early
Childhood Home Visiting
Grant Program; and the
Environmental Protection
Agency for the Climate
Showcase Communities
Grant Program.
• Budget and recontracting for the Fiscal Year 201011 Choctaw Nation Head
Start Program.
u What’s inside
Notes to the Nation................ 2
Columns................................ 3
Nursery News........................ 4
Food Distribution Calendar.... 4
Outreach at the Beach........... 5
People You Know.................. 6
District Princesses............... 10
Obituaries............................ 14
Crossword Puzzle................ 16
Iti Fabvssa........................... 17
Labor Day Pow Wow........... 17
Labor Day Entertainers........ 18
The Mission
of the Choctaw
Nation of Oklahoma
To enhance the lives of all
members through opportunities designed to develop
healthy, successful and productive lifestyles.
The BISKINIK
is printed on
recycled paper.
Emergency Response Center opens in McAlester
By KAREN JACOB
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
On July 15, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City
of McAlester in a cooperative
effort celebrated the ribboncutting of the new McAlester
Fire and Emergency Response
Complex. The 7,682-sq.-ft. facility is located at 607 Village
Blvd. and will station not only
fire trucks but also a HazMat
Response Trailer and an ambulance.
“We have two manufacturing plants and our biggest plant
is in McAlester. We are trying
to create jobs for Oklahomans.
We get the best training because
you can only be competitive in
this world if you have the best,”
stated Chief Gregory E. Pyle.
“This building is a joint
venture,” Chief Pyle continued. “We are building to last
100 years for our children and
grandchildren. We want our
children to stay here and have a
safe environment.”
Councilman Bob Pate honored Capt. Zappy Ott who died
in the line of duty in 1981 while
battling the Diamond Hardware
blaze. Members of Captain
Ott’s family were present and
recognized by his daughter,
Sharon Evans.
McAlester Mayor Kevin
Priddle stood up and said, “This
is a day of celebration,” and
then spoke of a memo from
representatives of the OSU extension office dated Feb. 14,
1985, that stated the need for a
fourth fire station in the southeast quadrant of McAlester.
Mayor Priddle said, “With the
help of the Choctaw Nation
25 years later, this need is finally being fulfilled. Thanks to
the tremendous efforts of our
Wright City honors Oklahombi
Choctaw Code Talker Joseph
Oklahombi has been honored with
a monument unveiled in his home
town of Wright City. The granite
stone is engraved “Joseph Oklahombi, 1895-1960.”
Oklahombi was born May 1895
near Alikchi, Indian Territory. He
moved to Bismark, now known as
Wright City in 1910. He enlisted
in the Army during World War I
and was one of the original Choctaw Code Talkers.
On Oct. 8, 1918, at St. Etienne,
France, Oklahombi and 23 fellow soldiers attacked an enemy
position and captured 171 prisoners. They held the position
for four days. For his bravery he
was awarded the Silver Star from
the United States and The Croix
DeGuerre from the French Marshal Petain.
After the war, he returned to
Wright City. On April 13, 1960, he
was killed in an accident near his
home. He was buried with miliState Representative Dennis Bailey, State Senator Jerry tary honors in the Yasho Cemetery
northwest of Broken Bow.
Ellis and Chief Gregory E. Pyle.
By CHRISSY DILL
partner, the Choctaw Nation,
the City of McAlester has a
state-of-the-art emergency response center which will serve
our citizens and our county for
years to come.” The $1.95 million facility was completed by
using a $800,000 Community
Development Block Grant obtained by the Choctaw Nation
and a little over $1 million directly from Choctaw Nation
businesses.
Choctaw
youth camps
promote
cultural
enrichment,
active
lifestyles
The Choctaw Nation has many organizations to promote
the growth of their youth. Whether it is teaching them the
Choctaw language or aiding them in furthering their education, it’s evident that the Choctaw Nation cares about its
youth excelling. The Summer Youth Activity Camps provide Choctaw children with opportunities to participate in
various sports and activities, promoting an active lifestyle
and productivity in the young population.
There are several Choctaw Cultural Events employees
who are in charge of the camps. Kevin Gwin is the Youth
Camp Coordinator, and he has been helping with the camps
for the past six years. “I have always enjoyed working with
kids,” said Kevin, “so it was an easy choice when my executive director offered me this job.”
See CAMPS on Page 15
August 2010, BISKINIK, Page 2
Quinton area residents gather for a fish fry on July 15 and some great food and fun
Jane Howell, Ersie Coblentz and Darrel Kimyon.
City Councilman Marvin Ginn, Assistant Chief Gary Batton and Mayor Bonita Pearce.
King, Betsey, Frazier, Jones
and Dailey Reunion
A family reunion for family and friends of Issac King, Lena
Mae Betsey King, Nannie Betsey Barcus, Wilson Frazier and Ella
Jones Frazier Dailey will be held on Aug. 7 at the Choctaw Nation Community Center at 707 Bond St. in Crowder. Gathering
will start at 10:30 a.m. and dinner will be served at 11:30. Family
recognition will be at 1 p.m. and gospel singing at 2 p.m.
Those attending are asked to bring a meat dish, dessert and soft
drinks. Door prizes will be given and anyone wishing to donate
items is welcome to do so. The lake is close by so those wishing
to swim and fish can do so as well. Bring pictures and mementos
of your family to share.
For more information contact Bryan Frazier at 918-420-0295,
Janice Frazier Bitsoi at 918-470-1481 or Leroy Sealy at 405-4748657. No alcoholic beverages are allowed.
Jones Academy Male Alumni Reunion
The Jones Academy Male Alumni Reunion is coming up on
Oct. 16. Supper will be at 5 p.m. Remember to tell the other Jones
boys about the reunion and the gospel singing after supper in
the gym at 7 p.m. They are welcome to sing, listen or play their
instruments.
For more information contact James “Jimmy” Bruner at 580298-3136. If anyone has any information on any of the alumni
who has passed away, please let Jimmy know so they can be
added to the “Honor Roll of Taps.”
Councilman Joe Coley, Chief Gregory E. Pyle and Marvin
Ginn.
Jean Cameron and Beverly Bice.
Randy Work donated a historic photo of Quinton to Chief
Pyle.
Vonzil Kimyon and Yvonne Miller.
NOTES
Thank you
Dear Chief Pyle
and the Choctaw Nation,
I recently graduated from the
University of West Alabama in
Livingston with a Bachelor’s
Degree in Athletic Training and
I have passed the BOC (Board
of Certification).
I would like to take this opportunity to say a “Thank You”
to the Choctaw Nation for providing me with financial aid as I pursued my education.
A special thank you to Chief Pyle as he diligently works to
move the Choctaw Nation to an upper-level of education which is
the basis that any nation grows upon. I say thank you to Mr. Larry
Wade, director of the Higher Education Department, and all of his
staff who are always so kind, prompt and helpful.
I am the grandson of the late Sam Cook Palmer, the greatgrandson of the late Ruby Cook Palmer, both of Preston, Miss.,
and the great-great-grandson of the late Peggy Garland Cook,
an original enrollee from Stigler. My plans are to continue my
education as I pursue my doctorate degree in Physical Therapy.
Thank you and may God continue to bless the Choctaw Nation.
David Wesley Haggard, ATC, Philadelphia, Miss.
Santa Fe Days on the Square
Thank you for certificate
A special thanks to the Choctaw Nation for giving my son, Robert Samuel,
a gift certificate for making all A’s and
B’s. He is the great-grandson of the late
Julia Tims of Smithville and the grandson of Dora Wilson. Robert attends
Beggs High School and Green Country/OSU Okmulgee. He is currently
studying machinist and plans to go to the Navy upon graduation.
Thank you, Career Development
Janica Williams finished her CNA class and passed her board
exam third in her class. She received her little CAN pin and will
get her card showing her accomplishment in a few days. I am so
proud of her.
Thanks to Career Development and Higher Education for the
past couple of years and the future for your help and support.
Donna Williams
Searching for relatives
I am searching for relatives of John Hammons and Elizabeth
Heskett of Crowder, W.D. Eckelman or Lotte Gresham. Contact
Donna Eckelman-Winfree at michelle1665@aol.com, 530-5475541 or P.O. Box 312 Palo Cedro, CA 96073 if you can help.
Donna Eckelman-Winfree
The Sante Fe Days on the Square in Old Downtown Carrollton,
Texas, will be held on Oct. 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This
is a free family event that celebrates Native American culture
and is open to the public. Special Seminole/Choctaw guest artist
Brian Larney will be in attendance.
Choctaw artists are wanted for the event! Contact James Box
for more information – 469-471-1241 or visit the website, www.
santafedays.com.
Southeastern Oklahoma Indian Credit Association
The Southeastern Oklahoma Indian Credit Association offers
small business, home, home improvement and agriculture loans.
To be eligible to apply, a person must reside within the 101/2 county service area of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and
must possess a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB)
from a federally recognized tribe.
For more information, please contact Susan Edwards at 580924-8280 or toll-free 800-522-6170.
Lil’ Choctaws say thank you
Gregory E. PyleGregory E. Pyle
Gary Batton
Gary Batton
Chief
Assistant Chief
Chief
Assistant
Chief
The Official
The Official
Monthly
MonthlyPublication
Publication
of the
of
the
Choctaw Nation
of Oklahoma
Choctaw
ofDirector
Oklahoma
JudyNation
Allen, Executive
Vonna Shults, Web Director
Stevens, Mail Center Director
JudyMelissa
Allen,
Executive Director
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LanaShults,
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Circulation
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Box 1210
Durant, OKAssistant
74702
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Editor
(580) 924-8280 • (800) 522-6170
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Purchasing
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www.choctawnation.com
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Administrative Assistant
e-mail: bishinik@choctawnation.com
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Dill,
Journalism
Intern
The BISHINIK is printed
each month as a service
to Tribal
Members. The BISHINIK reserves the right to edit submitted
Bret
Moss,
Journalism
Intern
material which it finds inaccurate, profane, offensive or morally unacceptable. Copy may be edited for proper grammar
and punctuation. Copy will be accepted in any readable form,
but where possible, it is requested that material be typewritten and double spaced. You must include an address or phone
number where you may be reached. Due to space limitations
and the quantity of article submissions, we are unable to include everything we receive.
If you are receiving more than one BISHINIK at your
home or if your address needs changed, we would appreciate
hearing from you.
The BISHINIK is a nonprofit publication of the Choctaw
Nation.
Circulation is monthly. Article deadline is the 10th of the
month for the following month’s edition.
BISHINIK® 2010
P.O. Box 1210
Durant, OK 74702
(580) 924-8280 • (800) 522-6170
Fax (580) 924-4148
www.choctawnation.com
e-mail: bishinik@choctawnation.com
The BISKINIK is printed each month as a service to Tribal Members.
The BISKINIK reserves the right to edit submitted material which it
finds inaccurate, profane, offensive or morally unacceptable. Copy may
be edited for proper grammar and punctuation. Copy will be accepted
in any readable form, but where possible, it is requested that material be
typewritten and double spaced. You must include an address or phone
number where you may be reached. Due to space limitations and the
quantity of article submissions, we are unable to include everything we
receive.
If you are receiving more than one BISKINIK at your home or if your
address needs changed, we would appreciate hearing from you.
The BISKINIK is a nonprofit publication of the Choctaw Nation.
Circulation is monthly. Article deadline is the 10th of the month for the
following month’s edition.
BISKINIK® 2010
Red Earth Parade a success
June 18 was a significant time for the Choctaw People at the
2010 Red Earth Festival Parade. On that sunny and hot day in the
midst of tall skyscrapers and the hustle and bustle of city life, the
sounds of Choctaw songs came to life on the streets of downtown
Oklahoma City. A delegation of Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians filled the air with traditional songs. The Mississippi women
led the men carrying their stickball sticks as they walked behind
the OK Choctaw Tribal Alliance float. The Choctaws of Oklahoma and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indian united on one
path to share the exhilaration!
Searching for information on Austin Jim family
My name is Tommy Thompson and I am trying to reconnect
with my family heritage. My great-grandfather, Austin Jim, relocated to Oklahoma from Mississippi. I was told some settled
in the Bentley, Okla., area. If there are any people in this family,
please contact Tommy Thompson at P.O. Box 131, Connerville,
OK 74836. Thank you.
A visit with Chief
While on vacation in May, we were passing through Oklahoma
and stopped by Durant. Chief Pyle was in the office and was gracious enough to take time from his busy day to talk with us. We
thought this was very gracious of him and I wanted to let him
know how much we appreciated that fact.
The Parsons Family from Merced, Calif.
Team Lil’ Choctaws competed in the Creek Nation Jr. Olympics
during the Creek Nation Festival. Sixteen kids participated in the
heat of the day. Six kids placed first, two kids placed second,
and three kids placed third in individual competition. The team
would like to say thank you to District 3 Councilman Kenny Bryant for the donation to help purchase shirts for the kids. We would
also like to thank Mr. Kimball of Kimball’s Store of Talihina and
thanks to Choctaw Travel Plaza of Wilburton for donating drinks
for the kids. Again, thank you for all the donations and support.
Coaches Melissa Impson, Cindy Watson, Cheryl Billy and
The Lil Choctaws
Little Miss Bokchito
says thank you
We want to thank all of you who purchased
candles, bought tickets, or made donations to
help our Little Mattie win the Little Miss Bokchito title and have her special day. She is so
proud of her little crown. Her float won second
place. She also raised more money than any of
the contestants.
The Williams and Jordan families.
Blanche-Bray
reunion
The Blanche-Bray reunion was held May 1 at the
home of Opal Bray. Those
attending were her sister,
Chillie Stouff, of San Diego; brother Dalton Blanche
and his wife, Ginger, of
Oklahoma City; Paul and Cheryl Stouff of Denver, Colo.; Matt
Reiser of Dallas; Mitchell and Anne Blanche of Lexington, Ky.,
and Fred and Doris Bray of Broken Bow. The Trail of Tears shirts
were selected as our shirt this year.
Players chant, yell and tap their sticks together as they enter the field.
Leading the team on the field.
Oklahoma competes in World Series Stickball
Enthusiastic team members
are true Choctaw sportsmen
Chief Gregory E. Pyle greets the Oklahoma team.
From the desk of
Chief Gregory E. Pyle
Oklahoma Choctaws made
history this July with a team
entered in the World Series
Stickball Game at Mississippi. We were made welcome
by our brethren in our ancestral homeland, as were Choctaws from all over the United
States, as teams gathered at
the football field at the Choctaw High School in Choctaw,
Miss. Gaming Commissioner
Henry Williams said that 30
teams would compete before
the week was over in the single elimination tournament.
The Oklahoma team competed early in the week
against “Unified,” a diverse
team of great players who
ended the game in the double
digits, while we cheered our
team for their two points.
The enthusiastic and professional attitude of the men
on the Oklahoma team lifted my spirits for the entire
week! As they prepared for
the game, I could hear them
singing, chanting, yelling and
tapping their sticks from over
a block away! They ceremoniously marched up the street
to the stadium, led by two
young men with drums. All in
bright turquoise shirts, many
with matching bandanas and
headbands, our team looked
great, too.
This was my first time at
the games, so when the Assistant Chief and I were asked
to lead the team onto the field,
we were honored and thrilled
to participate. Still tapping
their sticks, still led by the
drummers, and still chanting
and being loudly cheered on
from the bleachers, our team
marched three times from one
end of the field to the other,
continuing in a single file,
then we were joined by our
opponents who also snaked
alongside our team on our
journey from goalpost to
goalpost.
This was quite a sight, as
both teams had abundant athletes – some teams have more
than 100 players so that the
30 who are on the field can
continually be refreshed with
less-fatigued team mates from
the sidelines.
I was proud to have prayer
asked for the team and the
game. We always begin meetings at Choctaw Nation with
prayer and I am thankful when
we are at public events hosted
by others and they have the
same traditions.
Although we did not win
the game, we were blessed to
have no injuries. All that was
broken was a pair of sticks.
After congratulating the
Unified team, the Oklahoma
men left the field, talking
about all they had learned and
how excited they would be
to come back next year and
compete again! These guys
are true Choctaw sportsmen! I
appreciate each and every one
of them!
Imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ
Our message for this month
is on the “imminent return of
our Lord Jesus Christ.” First,
let me share with you these
words from the book of Hebrews 9 verse 27, “... it is appointed unto men once to die,
but after this the judgment.”
It is true that “it is appointed upon men once to die.”
We have seen this happen
throughout human history.
Death goes on. It plays no favorites. It claims both young
and old, rich and poor, small
and great, the wicked and
righteous.
The Bible indicates that
there is going to be one generation of believers who will
never die. I am thinking of
those who are living when Jesus comes, who in a moment,
in a twinkling of an eye, in
glorified bodies, rise to meet
the Lord in the air.
Paul, in writing to the
church at Corinth, in his
first letter, First Corinthians in chapter 15 and verse
51, wrote, “Behold, I show
you a mystery; We shall not
all sleep, but we shall all be
changed.”
Then Paul assured us in
his first letter to the Thessalonians that when the Lord
Jesus returns, and we read in
First Thessalonians 4:16-17
these words:
“For the Lord himself shall
descend from Heaven with
a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead
in Christ shall rise first.
“Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air; and so shall we ever
be with the Lord.”
These words not only indicate that some believers will
never die but also suggest
the imminence of our Lord’s
return and the translation of
believers into His presence
without ever dying.
Chaplain’s Corner
Rev. Bertram Bobb
Tribal Chaplain
Since the days of the Apostle Paul, he and all born-again
believers have shared in that
wonderful prospect that they
might well be a part of that
number who are living when
Jesus comes, and who will
never taste of death.
Paul wrote, “Then we
which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together
with them ...” Can it be that
the “we” in that verse refers
to us today?
Are we that special body of
believers who will hear the
shout and be raptured into
the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ without ever passing through the valley of the
shadow of death? The answer
is YES. It could be and may
well be.
When we speak of the imminence of our Lord’s return
we mean that it could take
place at any time. There is
nothing at all standing in the
way. This does not imply that
He must come today, this
week, this month, or even
this year, but He may. He
could return at any moment.
God so ordered His Revelation that believers in every age could live with the
expectation of the coming of
His Son. The promises are so
worded that every age may
view the coming again of
Christ as imminent, and receive the blessing and comfort of such a hope.
In view of all that is transpiring in the world today our
generation has more cause to
be excited about, and to look
with more expectancy, the
fulfillment of the promise of
His coming than any other
generation. Even though
Christians in every century
since the ascension of Jesus
Christ have lived in the expectation of His return, we
have three distinct advantages over those who have
already lived and died – advantages which should make
us more knowledgeable, and
expectant of our Lord’s return than ever before.
First of all we know that we
are nearer the coming again
of our Lord Jesus Christ than
any other generation.
Secondly, we can enjoy,
learn, and profit from the
studies of outstanding Christian leaders dealing with
the return of the Lord Jesus
Christ. The prophetic Scriptures can be clearly understood from men like, John F.
Walvoord, J. Dwight Pentecost and Charles C. Ryrie.
Then thirdly, we have seen
things in our own day which
bear a striking resemblance
to the signs Jesus said would
happen before His coming
again when He personally returns to reign over the earth.
Those who lived in centureis past knew that certain
events had to take place in
connection with the Lord’s
return. Even though they
could not explain just how or
with what speed they might
be fulfilled to fit into the program of the Lord’s imminent
coming. They just knew and
had the faith to believe that
somehow, some way, God’s
word would be fulfilled.
Today, we can actually witness certain developments
and understand in the light
of them how Jesus’ coming
could well be even at the
door.
In our present generation,
we can see a line-up of nations which could, almost
overnight, develop in the revived Roman Empire. We no
longer need to wonder how a
man could become a world
dictator.
The “signs of the times”
as given by the Lord in Matthew 24, Luke 13, and Luke
21 relate to His glorious return. Not the rapture. They
will mark the period between
His calling out of the Church
and His coming to rule. Some
of the developments we see
today suggest that the time
Christ spoke about may be
very near.
To the student of prophecy,
the recent activity in Israel
and surrounding Israel is of
special interest.
Jesus Christ is coming
again. It may be soon. Are
ready? Do you know Jesus
Christ as your personal Savior?
If you do not know Him,
will you realize who you are,
a sinner, realize Who God is
and what He has done. He
sent His only begotten Son,
the Lord Jesus Christ, to die
on the cross in your place. He
was buried and rose again on
the third day. Will you trust
Him as your Savior? You do
this by faith.
Pray for America and for
our leaders, pray for our
brave men and women in service.
Working together
to improve lives
From the desk of Assistant Chief Gary Batton
It is great to work for an entity and a leader who are always so positive about partnering to improve lives of tribal
members, other citizens and communities around us. Just
recently, the Choctaw Nation celebrated a partnership
with McAlester for a new fire department. The tribe combined an $800,000 Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) and $1,150,000 in tribal funds to build a $1.95
million, 7,682-square-foot Fire and Emergency Response
Complex on the southeast side of town.
We are extremely proud to be able to collaborate on this
project that provides residents of the city and our tribal business enterprises in McAlester a safe environment. Although
the Choctaw Nation constructed this much-needed facility,
the City of McAlester will staff and maintain it.
Being toured through the fire station by Fire Chief Harold
Stewart and the other firefighters was a great experience
– they are all excited and appreciative of both the beauty
and efficiency of the building. While on duty, the station
is “home” to the firefighters. The dorm rooms and kitchen
area are extremely comfortable, and the conference room
doubles as a safe room in case of a tornado. In addition to
the fire trucks, a Hazmat Response Trailer and ambulance
will be housed in the new station.
McAlester is the second town in Choctaw Nation boundaries to benefit from a fire station built with CDBG and
tribal funds. Durant opened a new station near the casino
and travel plazas last year thanks to a partnership with that
town.
Other big projects the tribe has completed in local towns
to improve the community and the lives of people living
there include health clinics, senior citizen housing, jobs
through economic development (mainly casino and travel plazas), new tribal community centers and roads and
bridges improvements. As Mayor Kevin Priddle said at
McAlester, “It is amazing what you can do when you work
together!”
Dangers of
second-hand
smoke
“Second-hand smoke” is the
smoke you breathe when you
are around any kind of smoker. It is the smoke that comes
from the burning end of any
tobacco product – cigarette, cigar, or pipe. It’s also the smoke
that the smoker breathes out.
Non-smokers inhale the smoke
when they’re around smokers. There are 60 known and
other probable cancer-causing
substances in tobacco. It also
contains 4,000 chemicals, including pesticides and many
poisons.
Second-hand smoke has
stronger concentrations of
some of these harmful substances that what the smoker
inhales diectly.
Second-hand smoke can
cause many health risks. For
instance, smoke can harm the
heart. Anyone who lives with a
smoker is at risk for developing lung cancer or even having
a heart attack.
Inhaling second-hand smoke
is especially dangerous for babies and young children. Their
lungs are delicate and still developing. The smoke makes
their lungs less able to completely fill with air.
Children exposed to smoke
are more likely to get sick.
They may get more colds and
ear infections from fluid buildup in their middle ears.
Children can develop pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis and
other lung infections. They
may develop allergies. If a
child has asthma, it may get
worse.
As a parent, what can you
do?
• You should not smoke
while you’re pregnant. If you
smoke, the baby smokes, too.
• Ask your partner not
to smoke around you while
you’re pregnant.
• Women who smoke or
are exposed to smoke are
more likely to have a low
birth weight baby. If you are
smoking ask your health care
provider about stop-smoking
aides.
• Ask your partner or other
family members to go outside
your home to smoke.
• Let them know that any
smoking in the home increases
the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
We all want the best for our
babies and children. One of the
best gifts you can give your
child is to keep them away
from second-hand smoke.
Make the right food choices
for a healthier lifestyle
Step up to nutrition
and health
The food and physical activity choices made every day
affect your health and how
you feel today and in the future. Eating right and being
physically active are keys to a
healthy lifestyle. The Dietary
Guidelines for Americans,
2005, can lead the way to a
healthier you.
Make smart choices
from every food group
Give your body the balanced
nutrition it needs by eating
a variety of nutrition-packed
foods every day. Just be sure to
stay within your calorie needs.
A healthy eating plan:
› Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fatfree or low-fat milk and milk
products.
› Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts.
› Is low in saturated fats,
trans fats, cholesterol, salt and
added sugars.
Get the most nutrition
out of your calories
WIC
WOMEN, INFANTS
AND CHILDREN
Choose the most nutritionally rich foods you can from
each food group each day –
those packed with vitamins,
minerals, fiber, and nutrients
but lower in calories.
› Focus on fruits. Eat a variety – fresh, frozen, canned or
dried. For a 2,000 calorie diet,
you need two cups of fruit each
day.
› Vary your veggies. Eat
more orange and dark vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli and dark, leafy
greens. Include beans and peas
such as pinto beans, kidney
beans, split peas and lentils
more often.
› Get your calcium-rich
foods. Have three cups of
low-fat or fat-free milk - or an
equivalent amount of low-fat
yogurt and/or low-fat cheese
every day (1 1/2 ounces of
cheese equals 1 cup of milk).
If you don’t or can’t consume
milk, choose lactose-free milk
products and/or calcium-fortified foods and beverages.
› Make half your grains
whole. Eat at least three ounces whole-grain cereals, breads,
crackers, rice or pasta every
day. Look to see that grains are
refered to as “whole” in the list
of ingredients.
› Go lean with protein.
Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake, broil or grill it. And
vary your protein choices with
more fish, beans, peas, nuts
and seeds.
Find your balance between
food and physical activity.
Regular physical activity, at
least 30 minutes a day, is important for your overall health
and fitness – plus it helps control body weight, promotes a
feeling of well-being and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
For even greater health benefits and to help control body
weight, be physically active
for 60 minutes.
Choctaw Nation WIC
WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN
SITE
PHONE
HOURS
Antlers
580-298-3161
8:30-4:00
Atoka
580-889-5825
8:00-4:30
Bethel
580-241-5458
8:30-4:00
Boswell
580-380-2517
8:30-4:00
Broken Bow
580-584-2746
8:00-4:30
Coalgate
580-927-3641
8:30-4:00
Durant
580-924-8280 x 2255
8:00-4:30
Hugo
580-326-5404
8:00-4:30
Idabel
580-286-2510
8:00-4:30
McAlester
918-423-6335
8:00-4:30
Poteau
918-647-4585
8:00-4:30
Smithville
580-244-3289
8:30-4:00
Spiro
918-962-5134
8:00-4:30
Stigler
918-967-4211
8:30-4:00
Talihina
918-567-7000 x 6792
8:00-4:30
Wilburton
918-465-5641
8:30-4:00
DAYS
Every Tuesday
Every Mon., Thurs. & Fri.
1st, 3rd & 4th Wed.
1st Tuesday
1st & 2nd Friday
Mon., Wed., Thurs. & Fri.
2nd, 3rd & 4th Tuesday
2nd Wednesday
Daily
Mon., Tues., Wed. & Thurs.
3rd & 4th Friday
Mon. & Fri., 1st & 3rd Thurs.
Daily
Daily
2nd Thursday
Every Wed., Thurs. & Fri.
Every Monday & Tuesday
Mon., Tues., Wed., & Fri.
Every Thursday
Time for back-to-school immunizations
The Oklahoma State Department of Health reminds you
that now is the best time to
check your child’s immunization record and schedule a visit
with your health care provider
or local county health department to obtain any vaccinations needed for school.
This is the best time because clinics only get busier
as the start of the school year
Fruits and vegetables
add tasty health benefits
Summer fun brings with it lots of wonderful food fair. From
the healthy bounty of fruits and vegetables from the garden to the
not-so-healthy foods from the deep fryers, the rich and creamy
side dishes full of mayonnaise and the ice cream parlor. There is
a lot to be said for eating our favorite foods in moderation, yet we
should keep in mind the wonderful benefits of all the fresh fruits
and vegetables of the season. In fruits and vegetables, as well as
nuts and seeds, are found stanols. Stanols are plant-based chemical compounds which can help to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol
levels. Elevated cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart attack
and stroke, which is the number one killer of all diabetics. According to the CDC, one in every six U.S. adults has high cholesterol and these individuals face double the risk of heart disease.
This month’s recipe gives us the summer fun of grilling out along
with the tasty health benefits of fruit and vegetables.
Grilled Chicken with Green Chile Sauce Serves 4
1/4 tsp. oregano
4 chicken breasts,
2 jalapenos
boneless, skinless
1/2 tsp. pepper
10-12 tomatillos, husks
2 tbsp. cilantro, chopped
removed and cut in half
1/4 c. water 1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 medium onion
1/4 c. sour cream
2 limes, juice only
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1. Combine oil, juice from one lime, oregano, and black pepper
in shallow, glass baking dish. Stir.
2. Place chicken breasts in baking dish and turn to coat each
side. Cover dish and refrigerate overnight. Turn chicken periodically to marinate it on both sides.
3. Put water, tomatillos, and onion into saucepan. Bring to gentle boil and cook uncovered for 10 minutes or until tomatillos are
tender.
4. In blender, place cooked onion, tomatillos, and any remaining water. Add garlic, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, salt, and juice of
second lime. Blend until all ingredients are smooth. Place sauce
in bowl and refrigerate.
5. Place chicken breasts on hot grill and cook until done. Place
chicken on serving platter. Spoon tablespoon of low fat sour
cream over each chicken breast. Pour sauce over sour cream.
gets closer. The demand for
vaccines turns into a rush every year before school starts
mainly because of the boosters
due for children entering kindergarten.
Children in Kindergarten
through the 12th grade are
required to have the primary
series of the following vaccines: DTaP (4 doses), polio (3
doses), MMR (1 dose), hepatitis B (3 doses), hepatitis A (2
doses) and varicella (1 dose)
and booster doses of DTaP and
polio vaccines and a second
dose of MMR. A second dose
of varicella vaccine is also
recommended at 4 to 6 years
of age, but is not required in
Oklahoma.
If a child is behind with his
or her vaccinations, they can
catch up. Children can start
school as long as they are in the
process of complying with the
requirements.
Parents of children who
haven’t completed the required
series and boosters should obtain a schedule from their doctor or clinic that shows the dates
when they will receive the rest
of the doses. Parents can then
take the schedule to the school,
but the children must be started
on the series.
College students in Oklahoma are also required to present vaccination records. All
college students are required
to have MMR and hepatitis B
vaccines and first-time college
enrollees who will live on campus are also required to have
the meningococcal vaccine.
The college requirements do
not apply to students enrolling
only in courses delivered via
the Internet or through distance
learning in which the student is
not required to attend class on
campus.
Vaccines are also strongly
recommended for adolescents
and teenagers, although these
vaccines are not required for
school.
Three vaccines are recommended for all adolescents at
ages 11 to 12 and all teens 13
to 18 years who have not yet
received the vaccines:
· Meningococcal vaccine to
protect against four types of
meningitis as the risk for this
disease increases between ages
15 and 24 years.
· TDAP vaccine, a booster
against tetanus, diphtheria and
whooping cough, as immunity
decreases over time.
· HPV vaccine to protect
against viruses that cause 70
percent of cervical cancer and
90 percent of genital warts in
the United States.
· A second dose of varicella
vaccine for the best protection
These vaccines are available
at county health departments,
Indian Health Service and
tribal clinics, and many private
physicians through the Vaccines for Children Program.
Adolescents and teens are eligible for this program through
their 18th year if they have no
health insurance, or are eligible
for SoonerCare (Oklahoma’s
Medicaid program), or are
Native American or Alaskan
Native, or if their health insurance does not cover vaccines
or does not cover a particular
vaccine. However, once teens
reach 19 years of age, they are
no longer eligible for the Vaccines for Children program.
“Summer is a good time to
check the vaccination records
of everyone in your family. All
adults need tetanus and diphtheria boosters every 10 years,”
said Dr. Lynn Mitchell, Chief
Medical Officer and Deputy
Commissioner for Prevention
and Preparedness Services.
“So parents, check your records too, and get the vaccines
you need along with those for
your children. Kids may be
less resistant to shots when
they know grown-ups have to
get shots, too.”
Nursery News
Daniel Roshon Cato-Smith
Mary Avis Smith of Norman is proud
to announce the birth of her little cowboy, Daniel Roshon Cato-Smith. He
was born at 8:12 a.m. on Feb. 25, 2010,
at Norman Regional HealthPlex in
Norman. He weighed 6 pounds and 11
ounces and was 19 inches long. He is
the grandson of Barbara Smith Roebuck, nephew of Shanda and Omar Twitty, Courtney Smith, Chris
Smith and Brandi Martin, all of Norman, and great-grandson of
the late John “Jack” and Peggy Roebuck of Coalgate.
Anna C. Ferguson
Anna C. Ferguson was born June 16,
2010, to Vincent and Lauren Ferguson
of Pennsylvania. She was 8 pounds 6.6
ounces and was 21 inches long. Grandparents are David and Helena Ferguson
of Ohio and Drew and Jerriann Manze
of Pennsylvania. Great-grandmothers are the late Minnie Voyles,
formerly of Talihina, and Mrs. Loose of Pennsylvania. Uncles are
Dana Manze of Pennsylvania and Jonathan Ferguson of Ohio.
Sage Mariah Wetselline
Sage Mariah Wetselline was born
at Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton on May 31, 2010. She
weighed 8 pounds and was 20-1/4
inches long. Proud parents are Katrina
and Barry Wetselline Jr. of Apache.
Maternal grandparents are Carletta Glasgow and Israel Morales
of Apache. Paternal grandparent is Mary Hight of Apache. Greatgrandparents are Dorie and Doyle Denney of Kingston and Vivian Hight Wetselline of Apache. She is also welcomed by many
aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Richard Lee Timothy
Lauscher Osi-Nita
Richard Lee Timothy Lauscher OsiNita (Little Bear) was born at 2:27
p.m. on July 9, 2010. He weighed 7
pounds 9 ounces and was 19-1/2 inches
long. His parents are Tami Champagne
Krater and Timothy Ryan Lauscher of
Broken Arrow. He is the grandson of Timothia Smith-Earhart of
Tulsa and Richard and Melanie Lauscher of Broken Arrow.
Reese Elliot Fahsholtz
Reese Elliot Fahsholtz
was born on July 16, 2010,
to Rita Ann Boese and Bryan Lee Fahsholtz of Enid.
Reese weighed 9 pounds 11
ounces and was 22 inches
long. His grandparents are
Ann Marie and DeWayne
Boese of Enid and Deanna and Clay Cheek of Durant.
Piper Joelle Dawn Kelley
Two-year-old Sailor Dawn
Pearl Kelley proudly welcomes
her new sister, Piper Joelle Dawn
Kelley, to the family. Sailor and
Piper are the daughters of Tim
Kelley. The girls are the granddaughters of Joe Kelley and greatgranddaughters of Lee Roy "Chick" Kelley. Their great-greatgrandparents are Joe Kelley and Jane Marris.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
ANTLERS
Market open weekdays Sept. 1-28, except for:
Sept. 8: Idabel 9-11 a.m.; Broken Bow 12-2 p.m. (market closed)
Sept. 15: Bethel 9-10:30; Smithville 12-2 (market closed)
Closed Sept. 29-30 for inventory
Cooking with Carmen: Sept. 13 & 23, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
durant
Market open weekdays: Sept. 1-28, except for:
McAlester
POTEAU
Closed Sept. 29-30 for inventory.
*All locations closed Sept. 6 for Labor Day holiday.
Choctaw Nation Food Distribution
Open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday thru Friday. We
will take lunch from 11:30 to 12 noon
WAREHOUSES & MARKETS
Antlers: 306 S.W. “O” St., 580-298-6443
Durant: 100 1/2 Waldron Dr., 580-924-7773
McAlester: 1212 S. Main St., 918-420-5716
Poteau: 100 Kerr, 918-649-0431
Food Distribution Sites
Bethel: Choctaw Community Building
Broken Bow: Choctaw Family Investment Center
Idabel: Choctaw Community Center
Smithville: Choctaw Community Center
Stigler: Choctaw Community Center
In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture
policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of
race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication and Compliance, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call 800-795-3272 (voice) or 202-7206382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Outreach at the Beach
Sardis Lake
0
1
20
PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Happy 90th birthday
District 7 crowns princesses
Councilman Jack Austin is pictured with District 7’s 201011 Princesses – Little Miss Makala Battiest and Jr. Miss Melissa Gueli.
Thomas
earns
college
diploma
Thomas E. Davis, 61, was presented an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science in Human Services on June 18
from Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen, Wash.
Davis hopes to earn a family wage income by being of service
to his community as a Domestic Violence Advocate, Sexual Assault Advocate and employ the humanistic counseling approach
to Emergency Disaster situations. Moreover, Davis is a registered
counselor in the state of Washington with intentions of becoming
a Chemical Dependency Professional at some future date.
While earning his degree, Davis was Native American Student
Association President for three terms; a member of the President’s Scholars, which requires a grade point average of 3.5 or
above; standing in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Membership;
AutoCAD Certification; and voted the Teddy Bear Award by his
constituent Human Service Club Membership. The graduating
class consisted of 260 students and approximately 545 guests,
faculty and family members were in attendance.
The ceremonies were conducted by President Edward J. Brewster; the Honorable Christine Gregoire, Governor of Washington;
and Fawn Sharp, President of the Quinault Indian Nation and
member of the Grays Harbor College Board of Trustees.
Davis was deeply humbled and honored when he received a
card of congratulations postmarked in the state of West Virginia
signed by Bettye Bolen, Career Counselor for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Career Development Educational Assistance
Program which stated: “The success of one inspires the dreams
of many.”
Congrats, Lyndsi
Former Okla Chahta Head
Princess Lyndsi Riley graduated May 21 with honors
from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts
in Liberal Arts & Sciences
in Classics with an emphasis
in Classical Languages. Her
grandparents Chuck and Barbara Ishcomer and Aunt Tami
joined with her mother in attending the commencement ceremonies and in wishing Lyndsi a
very prosperous future. While earning such a prestigious degree,
translating Latin and Greek text and participating as a member of
Sigma Alpha Lambda, Lyndsi also competed for the San Diego
State Aztecs as a member of the NCAA Division I Cross Country and Track and Field teams where she won Scholar-Athlete
Honors.
Currently Lyndsi is in Greece, fulfilling the study abroad component of her degree. When she returns in the fall, she will begin
studying for her teaching credential at Sonoma State University
where she will also be competing once again as a distance runner on the Cross Country and Track teams for the Sonoma State
Seawolves. An avid athlete and sports fan, Lyndsi’s heart is to
encourage young people to lead a healthy lifestyle and would
someday hope to help implement a fun run at the Annual Okla
Chahta Gathering in California as a way to encourage children of
her own tribe. Lyndsi and her family are extremely grateful and
appreciative to Larry Wade and the Choctaw Nation for their very
generous support of her education.
Lily turns two
Lillian Jade Wahkinney celebrates her
second birthday Aug. 4. Her parents are
Gena and Joey Wahkinney; grandparents
are Kevin and Vera Wahkinney, Patricia
Roberts and the late Harold Isom. Lily’s
sisters are Saphire and Raven.
Happy birthday, Kylee
Kylee Sellers of Hugo competed in
the 2010 MLB Pitch, Hit and Run local competition held in Hugo and tied
for first place. She then advanced to
the State Sectional Competition in
Tahlequah. Kylee won first place in
the pitching and running part of the
competition and finished second overall. She received a second place medal.
Kylee plays for two fastpitch softball teams where she is a
catcher, centerfielder and relief pitcher. She is the daughter of
Khristy Sellers (Wallace) and Roger Sellers of Hugo. She has two
sisters, Lauren and Kamryn.
Kylee turned 11 on June 7 and celebrated her birthday with
her family at Texas Ranger stadium, where she had her name up
in lights during the game and received a gift bag from the Texas
Rangers.
Imogene Welch celebrated her 90th
birthday June 26 at Western Sizzlin’ in
Poteau. Helping her to celebrate were
many family members and friends.
Those attending were daughters, Shirley
and Bill Ward, Edith and Johnny Ward,
Claudette Hamner, and Brenda and Jackie Sweeten.
Also in attendance were her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, James, Susan, Michael, Matthew, and Adrianna Cantwell, Keith, Deann, and Taylor O’Neal
and Travis Cox, Kendall, Vanessa, Kenda, Carson, Radley, and
Hollan O’Neal, Aaron and Isaiah Lawson, Larinda Sweeten, Justin McKinney, Tammy and Spencer Ward, Christie, Kinley Belle,
and Lillie Branscum, Alicia, Raelyn, and Luke Herell, Katrina
and Kieran Jarman, T.J. and Jaelan Holt; friends and relatives,
Linda Owens, Lanell McGehee, Nicki Craig, Benny Owens, Ruben Owens, Betty Morse, Candi and Allee Baggs, Tim and Susan
Cannon, Kim, Kelly, and Tommy Robertson, Josephine, Marty,
Dora, Cody, and Emily Cooper, DelDean and Monty Billinger
and James Dighton.
Imogene is an active member of the Choctaw Nation District 4.
Happy birthday,
Capri and Joey
Happy first birthday to Joseph
Rodriguez and happy second
birthday to Capri Rodriguez,
both of Oklahoma City. Joey was born on Aug. 20,
2009, six days before big sister
Capri’s first birthday on Aug.
26.
Celebrating are their parents
Kimberly and Leonardo Rodriguez-Grados; grandparents,
Bob and Cheryl Farrar, Luisa and Atillo Rodriguez; and aunts
and uncle Kristal, Madeline and Philip Ginn. Their grandfather
is the late Ricky Ginn, great-grandmother Virginia Bond Grider
and Charles Rikli, great-great-grandparents are LeRoy and Alma
Leona Bond, great-great-great grandparents are Henry Jesse
Bond and Elizabeth Anderson Bond. The family is proud of their
Choctaw heritage.
Happy birthday, Maleck
Maleck Ginn celebrated his seventh
birthday on Aug. 7. Maleck has one
brother, Elijah, and sisters, Eralee and
Izzie. Mac’s parents are Lauren Horn and
Philip and Madeline Ginn. His favorite
aunts and uncle are Kristal Ginn-Farrar
and Kimberly and Leonardo Rodriguez.
Cousins helping him to celebrate are
Joey and Capri.
Grandparents are Cheryl and Robert Farrar, the late Ricky Ginn,
Brenda Horn, John and Neysa Horn. Also, great grandparents
Virginia Bond Grider and Charles Rikli, great-great-grandparents
Alma Leona and LeRoy Bond, great-great-great-grandparents
Henry Jesse Bond and Elizabeth Anderson Bond.
Tamara graduates
The family of Tamara Haslip is proud
to announce her graduation with her
Bachelor’s in Nursing from California
State University, Palm Desert Campus.
Tamara graduated with departmental
honors and received a special award for
her scholastic abilities. She is the daughter of Susan Wilson Bullock, stepdaughter of Daris Bullock, and
granddaughter of Thomas and Gladys Wilson. They are thankful
to the Choctaw Nation for its assistance with Tamara’s education.
Great job,
Rory, Rily and Rayce
At the end of the spring semester, Rory Sanders completed
requirements for an associate
degree in radiology technology
from Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City campus. Presently he is employed by Bone
and Joint Hospital in Oklahoma
City. Rory’s future plans include
competing his bachelor’s degree and to become a physician’s assistant. A special thanks goes to Robin Counce for her help as
Rory pursues his education.
Rily Sanders, also a graduate of OSU-OKC, is currently attending the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. He is
studying general business.
Rayce, the youngest brother, is currently enrolled at OSU-OKC
and will continue his education at UCO in Edmond to complete
a degree of technology in industry education, to be a certified
welding instructor.
Rory, Rily, Rayce, along with their parents, Rick and Pamela
Sanders of Piedmont, are very appreciative of the Choctaw tribe’s
support in their pursuit of post-high-school education.
The brothers are the great-grandsons of the late Charlotte
Hampton, an original enrollee. Their grandparents are Richard
and Bennie Edmonds of Mustang, Cecil and Mac Sanders of Yukon, and Vic and Eva Daniels of Enid.
Wesley attends
Wright City events
Williston Wesley attended the
100-year Wright City Centennial Ceremony. He is pictured
at the gravesite of Joseph Oklahombi. He also rode a horse in
the annual American Legion
Rodeo parade and attends the
Wright City Choctaw Community Center regularly.
Congratulations, Walter
Mary Gates would like to congratulate her
cousin, Walter Murillo. Walter is the son of
Vedis Murillo and grandson of Siney Noah.
Walter has recently been designated as the
Interim CEO for Native Health. Walter says
he is “honored to fill the CEO position during the period in which a permanent Director
will be recruited and hired.” He has been with Native Health for
over 13 years.
Shelbie takes mission
trip to Honduras
Shelbie Smith, daughter of Kristel and
Layman Clay of Buffalo Valley, recently
returned from a mission trip to Mision
Caribe in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Shelbie traveled with J.D. Miller, nationally
known musician from Kentucky, from
Houston to Tegucigalpa. The purpose of
their visit was to conduct “Talento Cristiano Hondureno,” a talent competition for the young people of
the country. From the 90 contestants, a 12-year-old girl won with
a song she had written.
Shelbie said, “The country is beautiful and the people are
friendly. There are a lot of needs in this country, like clean water
and reliable electricity. I had taken clean water, electricity and
especially air conditioning for granted. We are really blessed
here in the United States to have these things that are needed so
badly in other areas of the world. I would like to thank my home
church, Valley Christian of Talihina, Mark and Janet Layman,
missionaries for Global Witness, J.D. Miller of Kentucky and the
prayers and support of my family and friends for making this trip
possible. I can’t wait until I can go back again!”
Shelbie is a 2010 graduate of Buffalo Valley and has enrolled in
Connors State College for the fall semester. She plans on furthering her education to become a doctor.
Wrestling champ,
Phillip Reitz Jr.
Congratulations to Phillip Reitz Jr. of
Joplin, Mo., for wrestling in the Missouri
State Wrestling Tournament in Columbia.
He wrestled in age group 12 and under,
175 pounds, taking second place. Phillip
also became a national champion when
he wrestled in the Liberty National Tournament, 12 and under,
175 pounds. He is proud of his Choctaw heritage and his singlet proudly states “Native American.” He is the son Phillip Sr.
and Tina Reitz of Joplin and the grandson of Lena Karen Sexton,
Caney, and the nephew of Victoria Maturino, Joplin.
Happy birthday,
Khloe and Kendon
Sister and brother, Khloe Gonzalez and Kendon, recently celebrated their birthdays together.
Khloe turned two on May 30 and
Kendon celebrated his 12th birthday on June 2. Sending them birthday wishes are their mother
and Ambree.
Lil’ Choctaw cutie
This little “darling” is Meredith Riley Scott, great-granddaughter of Mary
Lynn.
John Anderson wins
truck driving competition
John Anderson, son of original enrollee James Ralph Anderson and Margaret Louise Andrews-Anderson, and
grandson of original enrollees James
D. Anderson and Millie Carnes-Anderson-Fitzgerald, took first place in
the California Trucking Association’s
Truck Driving Championship Competition held June 6 in Arcadia, Calif. As state finalist in the four-axle semi-trailer division,
John will compete with other states’ winners at the American
Trucking Association’s National Truck Driving Championships
being held in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 3–7, 2010.
John has been a professional truck driver with FedEx National
LTL for almost four years and began his 34-year driving tenure
in the oil fields of Oklahoma. He has received numerous “Driver
of the Year,” “Driver of the Month,” and safe driving awards
throughout his driving career.
John lives with his wife, Cinde, in Millbrae, Calif. He has four
children and five grandchildren. His sons, Robbie and Josh, and
their families live in Wilburton, and his daughters, Jessica Flores
and Sheridan Trailer, and their families live in the Millbrae area.
John’s family and friends wish him much success in Columbus.
Sisters celebrate
August birthdays
The family of Alondra Janette Perez
and Maria Isabela Perez would like to
wish them both a happy August birthday. Bela is turning six and Alondra is
turning 15. They are the great-granddaughters of Nelson Holman, Gladys
Durant, and Marie Larney. The girls
are descended from a blending of Choctaw, Seminole and Creek
tribes. They have one sister, Alexandra. Their family is very
grateful for blessings received this year after a terrible accident
happened in which both of these children were injured, and hope
that they are blessed with many more years to come.
Hooser honors his Oklahoma Choctaw heritage
By Chrissy Dill
Ernest has a passion for
teaching people about his
Choctaw heritage. He shows an
outstanding amount of honor
for his history and he is proud
of how his past has made him
into the man he is today.
Ernest was born Oct. 8, 1917,
in Tuskahoma. His father is the
late Newton Hickman Hooser,
coming from Missouri, and his
mother is Helen Amanda Hooser. Ernest’s mother is 3/4 degree
Choctaw, which gives him 3/8
degree of Choctaw blood. Ernest grew up with his mother,
father, two sisters and three
brothers in Tuskahoma and attended elementary and high
school there.
After graduating high school
in 1936, Ernest headed for the
Murray State School of Agriculture in Tishomingo and
graduated two years later. He
went on to Oklahoma A&M
College (now Oklahoma State
University) in Stillwater. He
earned his bachelor’s degree
in math and science and started
teaching in 1940 at Stigler.
On Sept. 21, 1940, Ernest
married his college sweetheart,
Helen Woolard, in Tishomingo. Helen was an artist and
the years she was alive, they
traveled across the United
States and some foreign countries. Throughout their travels,
she completed 2,600 beautiful
paintings of our nation’s landscape. Helen gave Ernest his
two children.
Ernest’s Choctaw family
goes back to the Trail of Tears
with his great-great-grandmother. On her journey on the Trail,
she walked to Memphis where
she had to share four boats with
2,500 other Indians. She walked
up the Arkansas River where
she encountered a winter storm.
There were less than 20 tents
for the 2,500 Indians. Most of
the people were barely clothed
Ernest Hooser reads to a group of boys and girls at the Robert Lee Williams Library in
Durant. The book he has chosen for the day is “Choctaw Little Folk” by Novella Goodman
Martin. The first four stories are attributed to his grandfather.
and some were barefoot in
the less-than-12-degree weather. According to Ernest, the
“Trail of Tears” earned its name
during this time from a Choctaw
chief being interviewed at the
Arkansas post. The chief said,
“The way things look, it looks
like a trail of tears.” While Ernest’s great-great-grandmother
passed away on the Trail, her
three sons survived to pass on
the story.
Ernest still owns land in Tuskahoma, where he spent his
days as a young boy with his
brothers and sisters. His mother
would send them on adventures
to climb the trees that were near
their home to retrieve the bark
at the top. His mother would use
the inside scrapings of this bark
to make medicine. They would
also dig up “snake root” to be
used for medicine. “My parents
didn’t own a car until I was a
junior in college,” said Ernest,
so they walked or rode their
horses wherever they needed to
go. They were a blessed family
during The Depression because
they had plenty of farm animals
to keep them well-nourished.
Something important Ernest
remembers his mother telling
him and his brothers and sisters
is, “You are going to college!”
It was very important to her that
they gain a good education, and
that’s just what Ernest did. He
had earned his bachelor’s degree in math and science from
Oklahoma A&M College and
went from teaching school in
Stigler to becoming the high
school principal in Tuskahoma
in 1943. He became principal
of Antlers High School in 1944
and earned his master’s degree
from Oklahoma A&M College
in 1949. He was working towards his doctorate, but decided to focus more on his current
career in education and administration. “I don’t regret quitting
pursuing my doctorate,” Ernest
said, and he soon became the
superintendent of Eagletown
Public Schools.
Four years after serving as
superintendent for Eagletown,
Ernest began teaching at Durant
Jr. High School and made Durant his home. He still resides
there today. He taught many
math and science classes and
eventually was put in charge
of and directed an educational
television station coming out of
Durant Public Schools. “I really
enjoyed the TV,” Ernest said. “I
enjoyed all of it.” It was a television station for the students,
by the students. Ernest enjoyed working with television
production and attended some
television teaching studios in
east Texas for a time. He also
worked at KXII Studios one
summer.
Not only has Ernest been
involved with television, he’s
been a photographer as well. He
developed his first roll of film
in 1937. He has taught a night-
photography class at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
He wanted to earn his living
by doing things he loved, not
working at something he didn’t
enjoy. With his work in teaching children, school administration, directing students in
television program production
and photography, Ernest is living his life doing the things he
loves most.
Something that Ernest thinks
is important to do is to read to
children. “I have made an effort,” he said, to read to all of
his children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. It brings
him great pride for his children and grandchildren to say
to him, “I remember you reading us stories.” He now reads
to his six great-grandchildren
as much as he can. They say to
him, “Big Papa, tell us stories!”
According to Ernest, this fills
him with pride.
Ernest loves reading to his
great-grandchildren, but he
shares his stories with as many
people as he can. Since Ernest
came to Durant in 1959, he has
been close with the Choctaw
Nation. “I tried to be involved
in everything I could with the
Choctaws,” he said. Ernest has
traveled to various schools and
read Choctaw stories to students. “It’s good for children
to have people read to them,”
said Ernest. He has read both
to elementary and high school
students and enjoys teaching
people about the Choctaw heritage. Recently, Ernest has been
reading Choctaw stories to children in the Robert E. Lee Public
Library in Durant.
Ernest encourages young
people to go out and get an
education because it will be
very helpful to them later in
life when they are searching for
the right career. They should
choose a career field they will
love and enjoy so they will live
a happy life. Ernest advises the
youth of today to “study and
know more about your people”
by studying the native language
and heritage. “I like for people
to be proud of whatever they
are,” he said, even if they’re not
Choctaw.
Ernest Hooser is an honorable Choctaw elder who is admired by many. Ernest Hooser
was named an outstanding elder
of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma in 2004. Ernest’s brother,
John Hooser, has also been
named an outstanding elder.
He is an incredibly kind man
who lives to love, learn and pass
his wisdom to those around
him. He has recently closed a
speech, receiving a well-earned
standing ovation by over 100
listeners, by stating, “I am a
proud Oklahoma Choctaw Indian. I am a proud American Indian.” Ernest shows pride for his
Choctaw heritage in a way that
deserves the utmost respect.
Horn to teach language classes in Durant
Bonnie Horn
was presented her
teaching certification during the July
10 Council Meeting. Pictured are
Council Speaker
Delton Cox, Councilman Ted Dosh,
Horn, Community
Language Director
Richard Adams,
and Assistant Chief
Gary Batton.
Durant High School alumni is baseball stand-out at OU
By Bret Moss
Oklahomans take pride in
many things, and near the top of
that list would be baseball and
their University of Oklahoma
Sooners. Max White, who just
finished his freshman year at
OU is an embodiment of this
pride.
White, a 2009 graduate of
Durant High School and member, plays left field for the
Sooners and just returned from
an impressive display of talent
in the College World Series.
Though the Sooners did not
take the series, much hype has
been generated in their favor
and White has been recognized
as an athlete with great potential.
“It is surreal,” stated White as
he described his first year and
the media spotlight. “I remember the first game I started, I
was named the OG&E Player of
the Game… I was interviewed
live on TV and radio.”
Choctaw Nation
Distance Learning Technology
GED Classes
Beginning:
August 16, 2010
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Choctaw Nation
Community Centers in Bethel,
Smithville and Wright City
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
1 – 4 p.m. at the Choctaw Nation
Community Centers in Atoka, Coalgate
and Talihina
Distance learning GED classes are now available at the above
locations to students in the Choctaw Nation. An experienced
GED teacher will instruct you, using the One-Net Distance
Learning Technology. Distance Learning allows students and
teacher to see and hear each other on large monitors. You will
be able to interact with the teacher as she helps you prepare
to take the GED test. Books, supplies and testing fees are provided. The class will meet 3 days each week for approximately
9 weeks. A CDIB is required. For more information please
contact Neal Hawkins or Kathy Springfield, Choctaw Nation
Adult Education, 800-522-6170 or 580-924-8280, ext. 2319
or 2122.
All this attention has not hit
White just yet and he describes
it as still not feeling real. “It will
probably hit me when I get older,” White said when describing
the experience.
Given his exceptional play
over the season, there is now
speculation that he could be
considered for professional
baseball. White commented,
“There is a great chance for pro
ball… I don’t care what team I
would play for, getting to the
show is everybody’s dream.”
White’s dreams of pro ball
might just come true if he keeps
up his success on the field.
Max is not the only White
pleased with recent success.
His mother, Kim White, says,
“It has been an amazing ride…
we never dreamed he would do
so well so fast.” As Sooner fans,
the White family was very excited to see their son make the
team and obtain a starting position. “Everything you wish for
when you are a kid, he is living
that,” asserted Kim.
White works as hard in the
classroom as he does on the
field during games and practices. A lot of practice, hard work
and hours on the road filled
White’s freshman year at one
of Oklahoma’s top universities,
but he still managed to do well
in his studies and pulled off 30
credit hours over the year while
excelling in athletics.
White looks back on his
experience on the team with
fondness. “Its like we grew up
together, nobody thought they
were better than anybody,”
commented White as he described the Sooner baseball
team. “We were a close team
and that is what got us that far.”
White is back in his hometown of Durant for the summer.
“I was supposed to go to Cape
Cod to play summer ball, but
we went so far in the series that
I couldn’t,” commented White.
His plans for the summer have
changed to “hitting the weights
pretty hard” and getting some
rest for next season.
Remembering the road to
his success, White looks back
on high school and remembers
Coach Zach Crabtree as an inspiration to become the player
he is. “He made me a better person before a player,” said White
regarding his former coach.
His advice to high school
athletes looking to venture into
collegiate athletics is, “Don’t
take the time you have in high
school for granted. Work hard
with that time and you will be
taken by surprise with what you
can do.”
College Prep Coordinator Stephanie Hodge
Gardner is named Oklahoma’s Rising Star
Stephanie Hodge Gardner, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Scholarship Advisement Program’s College Prep Coordinator,
has been named Oklahoma’s Rising Star for 2010 by the Great
Plains Association of College Admissions Counselors (GPACAC). GPACAC is a three-state (Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma) regional organization that is an affiliate of the National
Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) a
10,000-member international organization.
GPACAC’s Rising Star Award honors top individuals and/or
programs in each of its states that exemplify excellence and dedication to serving the needs of students who are in the transition
from high school to college.
The Rising Star award recognizes a young professional who
has been in college admission counseling for less than five years
and has shown leadership and commitment to the profession and
to helping students with the college transition process, according
to Barbara Adkins, Associate Dean of Admissions for the University of Tulsa and past president of GPACAC. Adkins nominated
Stephanie for the Rising Star Award from Oklahoma.
“As a new member, Stephanie embraced our organization,”
says Adkins. “She went to our national conference, and also
attended Guiding the Way to Inclusion (GWI) Workshop.” GWI
is a NACAC workshop that helps counselors assist underrepresented students and their families in the transition from secondary
to postsecondary education. GWI is tailored to address current
multicultural and diversity issues in higher education.
“Stephanie is a real go-getter and very dependable,” says Adkins. “She jumps into any project that will help students and gives
Barbara Adkins, left, Associate Dean of Admissions for the
University of Tulsa, presents the Great Plains Association
of College Admissions Counselors (GPACAC) Rising Star
Award to Stephanie Hodge Gardner (right), Choctaw Scholarship Advisement Program’s College Prep Coordinator and
GPACAC’s Oklahoma 2010 Rising Star.
it her all. She, in our opinion, is someone who will bring new
ideas and leadership to our organization.”
For more information about the Scholarship Advisement Program and its staff, visit the SAP website at www.choctawnationsap.com.
Youth Advisory Board takes action around the Choctaw Nation
Stigler YAB presents the Freddie Falvmmichi posters during training. Falvmmichi is a domestic abuse prevention program geared toward 2nd graders, where the YAB mentor
these students and teach them that, "It's not cool to hit."
Passing out flyers for the annual, “Howe Trash-off Day”
that would take place the following weekend. Heavener and
Howe YAB took time off on a Saturday to pick up thier community.
Heavener YAB members, Shelly Herrin, Jessie Blackwell,
and Sierra Janway hand out Valentines to their local senior
citizens.
Howe YAB members and cheerleaders announcing that
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
Alysia Pemberton, Erica Monks, and Kolton Bryant passing out popcorn at the Stigler Health Fair.
Howe YAB performing a skit for the residents of The Oaks
Nursing Home.
Workforce Investment Act working hard at Jones Academy
Jones Academy hired 25 students to work through the WIA summer work program sponsored by the Choctaw Nation. The students did a remarkable job mowing, cleaning, painting and refurbishing the facilities on the Jones Academy campus. Besides being
paid for their labor, the students enjoyed the experience of knowing a job was well done.
Martina Delaware paints mural freestyle.
Part of the work crew group with social worker Mary Canham. From left: David Gordon, Shaylin WhiteBuffalo, Richard
Pedro, Mary Canham, Jarn Richards, Francis Brown, Courtney Wallace, Bennie Simpson and Alan Harjo.
The boys cleaning
up the playgrounds.
From left: Lee
Scott, Austin Stevens, Alan Harjo,
and Aleex Chatkehoodle.
Lucinda Roberts strips and waxes floors.
CHOCTAW NATION VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
Phone: 1-877-285-6893 • Fax: 580-326-2410
Email: ddavenport@choctawnation.com
Youth Advisory Board Scholarship winners
CDIB Membership 1st place
CDIB Membership 2nd place
CDIB Membership 3rd place
Kacie Orzol
Kassi Baughman
McKenzi Baldwin
Kacie Orzol’s future goals are to graduate college and become
a kindergarten teacher. I plan to attend Carl Albert State College
in Poteau, then transfer to either Northeastern State University or
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. This scholarship will help me
receive the education I need in order to achieve my goals. I would
like to thank the Choctaw Nation Youth Advisory Board for selecting me to receive this scholarship. I greatly appreciate it.
I would like to thank the Choctaw Nation Youth Advisory Board
for educational opportunities such as this one. I am so grateful for
winning this scholarship. This will be a vital role toward helping
me advance one step closer to achieving my academic goals. I
plan on attending Southeastern University for basic education,
then transferring to Southwestern in Weatherford, Okla., to pursue a Pharmacy degree. – Kassi Baughman
I would like to thank Chief Pyle and the Choctaw Nation for
awarding me the Choctaw Nation Youth Advisory Board Scholarship. I greatly appreciate the Choctaw Nation for everything it
has done for me in high school and entering into college. I will be
attending NSU in the fall where I will earn my degree in Speech
Language Pathology. Thank you again. – McKenzi Baldwin
Choctaw Scholarship Advisement
Program sets date for third annual
Ivy League & Friends
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
(CNO) Scholarship Advisement
Program (SAP) has set Saturday, Nov.
6 as the date for its third annual Ivy
League & Friends Choctaw Student
Recruitment. The praise and feedback
SAP received from past Ivy League
& Friends sessions ensure the 2010
gathering of students, parents and
the nation’s top colleges will be an
occasion CNO scholars from across
the country will not want to miss.
Ivy League and Friends began
in 2008 when Harvard University
visited Durant to meet with nearly 200 Choctaw students
and parents. The interest and response to the Harvard session
prompted SAP to expand its 2009 event to include not only
Harvard, but Yale, Dartmouth, Columbia, Penn, Johns Hopkins, Cal/Berkeley and Phillips Academy
as well. More than 300 CNO scholars and parents from
nine different states attended Ivy League and Friends 2009,
proving beyond a doubt that the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s college-bound students and parents are eager for
information about, and the chance to meet, America’s top
schools.
In 2009’s post event survey more than 95 percent of respondents said they would be extremely likely to recommend
attending Ivy League and Friends to a fellow CNO scholar.
The highly positive feedback from last year also provided
constructive recommendations that will make this year’s Ivy
League and Friends even better. Additions and improvements
for 2010 include an impressive list:
• More Schools – It’s anticipated this year’s Ivy League
and Friends will more than double the number of the 2009
attending colleges. SAP expects 20 or more of the nation’s
top colleges will attend. Schools and programs already
scheduled to participate include Columbia, Johns Hopkins,
Cal/Berkeley, Purdue and College Horizons. Harvard, Yale,
and Princeton are among the group of
selective institutions that have also been
invited.
• More Time and More Break-out
Sessions – Ivy League and Friends 2010
will be a full day, not just an evening
affair. Students and parents will have
time to learn more about each school and
attend their choice of numerous special
breakout sessions scheduled throughout the day. Sessions are planned for
each college and university and much
more time for one-on-one question and
answer opportunities will be provided.
• Special Presentations – Breakout sessions will also highlight special presentations on a variety of college preparation
topics. Look for sessions covering Financial Aid, College
Test Preparation, Resume Building and more.
• Added Graduate Student Emphasis – Ivy League and
Friends 2010 has more information and emphasis for graduate students. The event will include graduate student breakout sessions and many colleges will bring graduate student
recruiters.
• Held at the Choctaw Casino Resort – Ivy League and
Friends 2010 will be held at the new Choctaw Casino Resort
in Durant, Oklahoma. The new Resort Hotel features over
300 well-appointed rooms and luxury suites complete with
exclusive amenities. The Resort Hotel offers a business
center, fitness center, retail outlets, shuttle service and, of
course, access to Oklahoma’s finest casino and entertainment
experience.
Save the Date - Get Ivy League and Friends 2010 Updates.
CNO students and parents are urged to save the date –
Saturday, Nov. 6 – for the 2010 Ivy League & Friends. On
SAP’s Web site browse to www.choctawnation-sap.com/ivy
for more information and updates. Also, be sure to check out
SAP’s Facebook, Twitter, online newsletter, and blog for the
latest Ivy League & Friends news.
Saturday, Nov. 6
at
Choctaw Casino Resort
Koby Cross, First Place
I would like to thank the Choctaw Nation for the last four years
of my high school career. Without the Youth Advisory Board, I
would not have been able to experience the things I have. From
compliance checks to New York City, I have enjoyed everything
you have given me. I greatly appreciate the generosity which allowed us to participate in all the activities and trips in the last four
years. The Choctaw Nation will only continue to grow because of
the great leadership and willingness to make the Choctaw Nation
of Oklahoma a better place to live. This scholarship will help further my education and the ability to give back to my community.
The opportunities are endless because of this scholarship. I will
forever be grateful for the financial support and endless life lessons I have learned because of the Youth Advisory Board. Again,
thank you so much for the experience I would have never experienced on my own and for believing and investing in today’s youth.
Amy Wallace, Second Place
Amy Wallace is the daughter of Gary
and Nikki Wallace and the sister of Reed
Wallace of Hugo. She is also the sister of
Blake, currently deployed to Afghanistan.
Amy has been a graduate of Hugo and
an active member of YAB for two years.
She also encourages young people, such
as her younger brother to become participants in YAB. Amy was most impressed
with the healthy lifestyle goals of YAB. She says, “Membership
has enabled me with the techniques that will sustain me throughout my college tenure and as an adult. Regarding violence, society
offers many challenges to children and adults. Yet with this basic
knowledge I can encourage healthy choices for me, my peers, and
my family.”
Amy is currently working at Falls Creek, a Christian youth
camp, for the summer. In the fall she will attend OSU majoring in
interior design. She is also considering entering law school.
She is greatly appreciative of the scholarship, and it will be a
great benefit to her as she enters OSU in August.
LeFlore County YAB hosts Senior Citizen Dance
The YAB of Leflore County hosted
the second annual
“Dancing with the
Seniors Under the
Stars” at the Oaks
Nursing Home in
Poteau. This was a
evening full of fun,
music and laughter for the YAB and
Seniors alike. At the
end of the dance, a
dancing queen and
king were crowned.
Youth Advisory Board
supports breast
cancer awareness
The Youth Advisory Board members of Cameron High School planned and hosted a week
devoted to Breast Cancer Awareness. This event, PinkZone, was held Feb. 1-5. Events that
took place during the week were a poster contest, Support the Banks, where grades competed
against each other to see who could raise the most money, and Tickle Me Pink Challenge,
where students put money in faculty members’ jars and the one with the most had to be completely decked out in Pink. On Friday the YAB hosted a reception for breast cancer fighters,
had a pep rally in the gym, and encouraged all the fans to wear pink to that evening’s basketball game. All proceeds made from events and T-shirt sales were donated to the Susan G.
Komen foundation. The amount raised was $1,266.07.
Brett Porter, Third Place
I am attending Southeastern Oklahoma State University in
the fall, where I am majoring in biology. I will be a member of
the honors program. After graduating I plan to attend pharmacy
school. Upon completing pharmacy school I hope to have the opportunity to work for the Choctaw Nation. This scholarship will
help me get out of college debt-free. I am very thankful that the
Choctaw Nation YAB has the scholarship program.
2010 District Choctaw Princesses
Whitney Griffith
District 1 Little Miss
Kalli Battiest
Nikki Amos
District 2 Junior Miss
Ashlyn Choate
District 2 Senior Miss
Joyce Cummings
Brianna Battiest
Callie Curnutt
Andrea Ford
Kristie McGuire
Mahala Battiest
Melissa Gueli
Summer Moffitt
Sarah James
Rebeckah Boykin
Heaven Williams
Kayleigh Powell
Ataiya Jim
December Pittman
The Choctaw Princess Pageants are a way to let the beautiful
girls of the Choctaw Nation represent their tribe in a fun, exciting and competitive way. They show their pride for their Choctaw heritage through their traditional Choctaw talents, dress and
speech. The women responsible for keeping these young ladies
organized are Choctaw Nation Director of Tribal Events and
Wheelock Academy, Faye Self, and her assistant director, Elaine
Thompson.
Elaine has been working with Faye for about 4 ½ years. Faye
became the pageant director about two months ago. “She has got
such great organizational skills,” said Elaine concerning Faye. It
has been a quick learning experience for Fay and Elaine and they
have really enjoyed it. They’re always up for a challenge. “We’re
just motivated to make it better,” commented Elaine. They work
to make sure the pageants are right and fair to everyone, and put
a lot of effort into increasing pageant participation.
These Choctaw Princess Pageants are held in all 12 districts
in the 10 ½ counties of the Choctaw Nation. They are split up into
three divisions; Little Miss, between the ages of 8 and 12; Junior
Miss, between the ages of 13 and 17; and Senior Miss, between
the ages of 18 and 23. All participants must have at least 1/16
degree of Choctaw blood or more, and they must be a resident of
the Choctaw Nation.
The Little Miss competition consists of judgments based on
beauty and personality, traditional Choctaw talent, their goals as
princess and traditional Choctaw dress. The Junior and Senior
Miss pageant consists of personality, goals as princess, beauty
and poise, traditional dress and accessories and traditional talent.
The winners of the district pageants will go on to compete for
the title of Little, Junior and Senior Miss Choctaw Nation. This
pageant is held at Tuskahoma on Thursday, Sept. 2, just in time
for the Labor Day festivities.
Elaine and Faye are responsible for the behind-the-scenes
action that happens while the girls are performing on stage. “My
favorite part about the pageants is the girls’ excitement and enthusiasm,” said Elaine. “They show the culture of the tribe and
the represent the Choctaw Nation.” The toughest part, according
to Elaine, is keeping up with all of the participants’ paperwork.
Faye and Elaine have several duties as the pageant coordinators. They are responsible for meeting with the girls and getting
everything set up for them. They get their rooms, food and other
accommodations ready for the participants. They are there for the
girls and their families when the phones are ringing off the hook
with questions about the pageant. “We take care of their needs,”
said Elaine.
Currently, the 12 district pageants are all wrapped up and
the princesses have been crowned. They are now busy preparing themselves for the Miss Choctaw Nation Pageant in September. Watching theses young ladies perform their Choctaw talents
and showing off their colorful Choctaw dresses will give you
pride for your Choctaw heritage. These girls are the youth of the
Choctaw Nation and they display the Choctaw culture in a great
way. If you’re interested in participating in the Choctaw princess
pageants, call Faye Self at 580-924-8280, ext. 2192, and be sure
to come watch the Miss Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Princess
Pageant at Tuskahoma on Sept. 2. Here is a list of this year’s
winners:
District 1 Little Miss - Whitney Griffith Whitney is the
daughter of Jimmy and Paula Griffith. She is from Millerton
and attends school at Lukfata Elementary. Whitney likes to play
softball and is the first-baseman for the Lady Dawgs. She enjoys
playing at her friend Hannah’s house, talking on the phone, playing Nintendo and Wii and watching TV.
District 1 Junior Miss - Mona Jones (not pictured) Mona
is the daughter of Kimberly Holt. She is from Idabel and attends
school at Idabel Middle School. Mona likes participating in show
choir, reading, texting and talking on the phone, hanging out with
friends and family, singing, doing chores and going to church.
District 2 Little Miss - Kalli Battiest Kalli is the daughter
of Kenneth and Kimberly Battiest. She is from Broken Bow and
attends school at Bennett Elementary. Kalli likes to play softball,
do Choctaw social dance and talk on the phone.
District 2 Junior Miss - Nikki Amos Nikki is the daughter of
Michael and Vicky Amos. She is from Broken Bow and attends
school at Lukfata Elementary. Nikki likes spending time with her
family and friends, playing basketball, softball and soccer, reading, riding four-wheelers, hunting and fishing, attending church,
singing Choctaw hymns and Choctaw social dancing with the
McKinney Dancers.
District 2 Senior Miss – Ashlyn Choate Ashlyn is the
daughter of Russell and Annette Choate. She is from Broken Bow
and attends school at Broken Bow High School. Ashlyn enjoys
Choctaw Nation Youth Advisory Board activities including alcohol compliance checks, SWAT, nursing home visits and tutoring; Choctaw social dancing, watching sporting events, including
stickball; and being a member of the Myrtlewood Baptist Church
Anna Kenietubbe
Cherish Wilkerson
Rachelle Hatcher
Cameron Hardy
Sara Morgan
Miss Choctaw Nation Pageant
Tushka Homma
Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010
Drama Team.
District 3 Little Miss – Jessica Schoon (not pictured) Jessica
is the daughter of Angel and Angela Delao. She is from Talihina
and attends school there. Jessica likes animals, cooking, softball,
beadwork, crocheting, singing and church activities.
District 3 Junior Miss - Joyce Cummings Joyce is the
daughter of Greg Cummings and Angela Delao. She is from
Whitesboro and attends Whitesboro Public Schools. Joyce likes
participating in 5K runs, playing softball and spending time with
friends and family.
District 4 Little Miss – Brianna Battiest Brianna is the
daughter of Christina Battiest. She is from Poteau and attends
school at Poteau Upper Elementary. Brianna enjoys running 5Ks,
playing soccer, basketball and softball, going to church with
Nana, brothers and cousins.
District 4 Junior Miss – Callie Curnutt Callie is the daughter of Bruce and Francine Curnutt. She is from Wister and attends school at Wister Public Schools. Callie likes to hunt and
ride horses. She is very involved in 4-H and shows goats. She is
also involved in several community service projects throughout
the year through 4-H.
District 4 Senior Miss – Andrea Ford Andrea is the daughter of Jimmy and Sherry Ford. She is from Howe and attends
school at Carl Albert State College with a major in Sports Medicine. Andrea enjoys attending sporting events at Carl Albert, fishing, playing with her dogs and attending church.
District 5 Senior Miss – Kristie McGuire Kristie is the
daughter of Harold McGuire. She is from Keota and attends
school at the University of Central Oklahoma with a major in
Biology. Kristie likes to read and spend time with her family.
District 6 Little Miss – Hailey Scott (not pictured) Hailey is
the daughter of Wayne Scott, Sr. and Nora Scott. She is from Wilburton and attends school at Jones Academy. Hailey likes horses,
watching TV, caring for her animals and going to movies with
her cousins.
District 7 Little Miss – Mahala Battiest Mahala is the
daughter of Jeremy Scott Battiest and Rachel Battiest. She is
from Wright City and attends school and Wright City Elementary. Mahala enjoys playing sports. She is active in coach-pitch
baseball, soccer, she enjoys reading and spending time with her
dogs. She likes riding her horse “Princess” and helping her mom
with her baby brother and sister.
District 7 Junior Miss – Melissa Gueli Melissa is the daughter of Clifford and Cathy Ludlow. She is from Tuskahoma and
attends school at Clayton High School. Melissa enjoys attending
various Choctaw Bible Camps, singing in a Choctaw choir, learning traditional beadwork, cooking traditional Choctaw foods,
playing sports, learning Choctaw dancing, shopping, learning
bow shooting and spending time with friends and family.
District 8 Little Miss – Summer Moffitt Summer is the
daughter of Johnny and Barbara Moffitt. She is from Hugo and
attends school at Hugo Intermediate School. Summer enjoys
singing and performing the Lord’s Prayer in sign language, drawing and artwork. She also donates items to the Court Appointed
Special Advocates for children.
District 8 Junior Miss – Sarah James Sarah is the daughter
of Tony and Brenda James. She is from Hugo and attends school
at Hugo High School. Sarah likes to play sports and learn more
about her heritage. When she’s not helping out with the cleaning
and cooking, she’s doing her homework, studying and reading.
District 8 Senior Miss – Rebeckah Boykin Rebeckah is the
daughter of Robert (Sam) Boykin and Jana Pisachubbee Boykin.
She is from Hugo and attends school at Soper High School. Rebeckah enjoys playing soccer, basketball, golf, getting to travel
with the Choctaw Social Dancers and performing dances, learning about her heritage, doing beadwork with her mom, playing
the piano for her dad, spending time with her family, shopping
with her friends and having play time with her niece. She also enjoys going to livestock shows with her goats and her show heifer.
District 9 Little Miss – Heaven Williams Heaven is the
daughter of John and Shelley Williams. She is from Durant and
goes to school at North West Heights. Heaven’s interests include
playing soccer, basketball and softball. She has a 100% batting
average in softball. She enjoys hunting and fishing with her dad
and cooking with her mom. She is a great artist and loves to do
beadwork and make bracelets for her teachers and friends.
District 9 Junior Miss – Kayleigh Powell Kayleigh is
the daughter of Monica Blaine. She is from Durant and attends
school at Durant Middle School. Kayleigh likes shopping, texting, spending time with friends, mudding, riding four-wheelers,
swimming, basketball, golfing, babysitting and going to the lake
tanning.
District 9 Senior Miss – Autumn Cooper (not pictured)
Autumn is the daughter of George E. and Janette Allen. She is
from Calera and attends school at Southeastern Oklahoma State
University. Autumn likes attending the Choctaw Language community class. She is a member of SE’s Native American Council and SE’s President Leadership Class. She enjoys beading and
learning.
District 10 Little Miss – Ataiya Jim Ataiya is the daughter
of Raymond Mantano and Jana Jim. She is from Stringtown and
goes to Stringtown Elementary. Ataiya enjoys riding her bike,
swimming, caring for her three dogs and hamster, playing basketball and soccer.
District 10 Junior Miss – December Pittman December is
the daughter of Bradley Shawn Pittman and Julie Marie Lamber.
She is from Atoka and attends school at Atoka McCall Middle
School. December likes to go swimming, play with her cousins,
play with her four sisters and hang out with her friends. She loves
to sing and dance and she likes to try to help people achieve their
goals.
District 11 Little Miss – Anna Kenieutubbe Anna is the
daughter of Brian Hamilton and Teresa Kenieutubbe-Hamilton.
She is from McAlester and attends school at Edmond DoyleMcAlester. Anna likes to play basketball, softball and spend time
with friends and Grandpa Kenieutubbe. She attends First Indian
Baptist Church. She also participates with 2nd Saturday at the
community center.
District 11 Junior Miss – Cherish Wilkerson Cherish is the
daughter of Dennis and Dena Cantrell. She is from McAlester
and attends school at Crowder Public Schools. Cherish enjoys
cheerleading, riding horses, showing goats in FFA, hanging out
with friends, dancing, going for walks and going to the movies.
District 12 Little Miss – Rachelle Hatcher Rachelle is the
daughter of Kris and Sandra Hatcher. She is from McAlester and
attends school at Indianola. Rachelle likes baseball, basketball,
soccer, playing with her little sister and riding four-wheelers with
her dad.
District 12 Junior Miss – Cameron Hardy Cameron is
the daughter of Paula Carney. She is from Coalgate and attends
school at Wallace Byrd Middle School. Cameron enjoys sports
and practice, the Choctaw language, culture and traditions, preserving our heritage, spending time with friends and church youth
activities.
District 12 Senior Miss – Sara Morgan Sara is the daughter of Tommy and Shirley Morgan. She is from Centrahoma and
attends school at East Central University with a major in Vocal
Music Education. Sara likes spending time reading, going to the
movies, spending time with her family and she loves singing all
the time.
Connecting generations through flute-making
By LARISSA COPELAND
Almost all the tales from
the different tribes about the
origins of the flute say it was
an instrument of love. The stories reference men playing the
flute while courting a young
maiden. “They played from the
heart,” says flute maker Presley Byington of Idabel.
Presley, one of only a handful of Choctaw flute makers,
has been crafting flutes from
cane for about 20 years. While
visiting Cherokee, S.C., as
a kid, he saw and heard one
played, and the seed of admiration was planted, continuing to
grow ever since.
Presley has worked for the
Oklahoma Forestry Department since 1992, but years earlier, when he went out on his
own at 16 years old, he didn’t
have a real plan for what he
wanted to do. Later, his mother
asked if he wanted to apprentice Floyd Peters, a silversmith
she knew. She offered to pay
for his training and he agreed.
It was during his silversmith training with Floyd that
Presley learned to make the
flute. Floyd was taught the
flute-making trade by a man
who wanted to learn to be a
silversmith. The two made a
deal to teach each other their
trades. So, as Floyd taught Presley the ways of a silversmith,
he also showed him the art of
flute-making as well. In the
end, though Presley started out
learning to be a silversmith, he
became a flute maker instead.
When it comes to how he
makes the flute, Presley takes
the “think smarter, not harder”
approach. Though he knows
how to make a flute the way
his ancestors did he chooses
to take advantage of the tools
of today when he creates one.
“Choctaws are smart people.
They use what tools are available to them,” he explained. “If
they’d had power tools back
then I’m certain they would
have used them. My process
is different but it’s the same
result.”
Original Choctaw flutes
were made of switch cane or
river cane and they were made
with only two holes. In earlier Choctaw tales, this type of
flute was usually played by the
medicine men, or holy men, of
the tribe during the game of
stickball. Presley makes only a
few of these flutes. More often,
he makes the six-hole, Plainsstyle flute and typically uses
bamboo instead. Over time, the
Plains-style flute has been the
style many flute-makers have
adapted to, but the principles
of both flutes are the same – to
create beautiful music. He just
prefers the sound that a bamboo flute makes over that of
switch cane.
He cuts his own bamboo
from a local patch in Broken Bow, owned by a man he
knows. The man made a deal
with Presley that if would
make him flutes to give to his
grandchildren Presley could
use all the bamboo he wanted
from the patch in exchange.
Presley eagerly agreed and has
used his bamboo ever since.
Presley says he wasn’t able
to play a note of music for the
first three or four years that he
made them until he ran into
fellow Choctaw flute maker,
Paul Hackard. Paul gave him a
book of flute music and from
it he learned to play “Amazing
Grace.” He later learned that
is the song most players first
learn to play.
He tunes each flute by ear
during the creation process,
making fine, minor adjustments as he goes. The smaller
in diameter the flute, the harder
it is to tune. “If I can get it to
play ‘Amazing Grace’ I’m
happy with it,” he says.
He makes approximately
25 flutes a year to give away
or sell. He keeps about six to
eight completed flutes on hand
to give or sell to individuals
and museums, also making
them on order as well. He creates a variety of styles; some
big, some small, some plain,
some fancy with beadwork and
a nice bag. He usually donates
the more elaborate ones to be
auctioned for various fundraisers. When he does sell one it is
usually by word of mouth.
The Forest Heritage Center
in Broken Bow has two of his
flutes on display. When visitors
ask how they can get one, they
direct them to Presley.
Sometimes he is asked to set
up a booth at festivals; however, he doesn’t do this often. “I
don’t do it to make a living. I
do it for fun and because I just
like making them.”
Presley also does numerous
demonstrations for children
throughout the year at various
camps and school programs.
Most recently, on July 14, he
gave a presentation for kids
at a summer camp at Beaver’s
Bend in Broken Bow. When he
does visits like this he usually
brings along two flutes to be
given in a drawing – one for
a girl and one for a boy. He
gives away 10 to 12 flutes a
year to kids in this way.
Presley is passionate about
the Choctaw culture and does
much to pass it on and educate the next generation. Not
only does he make and play
the Choctaw flute, he also does
tribal beadwork, is a Powwow
dancer, does acting portrayals,
is a storyteller, and does demonstrations on other aspects of
Choctaw culture.
He has even been asked to
give blowgun demonstrations
to classes at the University of
Oklahoma.
He does all this because he
feels like it’s what he’s supposed to be doing. “It just all
fell into place. I’m supposed
to be, well, I am an educator of our culture. I’m always
willing to tell our stories,” he
explained. “It’s so important
that we don’t lose our identity. You’ve got to know where
you’ve been to know where
you’re going.”
“Who we are, our blood, it’s
important,” he said. “You have
to have a want deep inside and
hold on to it. We’re a piece of
the puzzle to connect the past
and present culture,” he continued, “and it’s important that
we keep passing it on.”
Preserving the past with photographs
By BRET MOSS
Throughout history, many
men have left their mark on
the world and are remembered through photographs.
In the case of Chester Cowen,
his mark is photographs.
Cowen is the recently retired curator of the Oklahoma
Historical Society’s photo
archives, a sizable collection
of photographs that number
in upwards of nine million.
He has aided in the growth,
organization and storage of
these historical artifacts since
1990.
Born in Chickasha in 1939,
Cowen is the son of Chester M. and Hazel Cowen.
He attended the University
of Oklahoma, where he obtained two baccalaureate degrees and a master’s degree.
He went on to Indiana University, where he completed
the coursework toward a
Ph.D.
Cowen is a member of the
and a member of the Choctaw
Veteran’s Association for his
service in the U.S. Army.
After serving his country,
Cowen traveled back to Oklahoma to study traveling photographers of territorial Oklahoma. He indexed photos and
was able to date them by examining the type of print that
was used, the clothes the subjects wore and the material on
which the photo was printed.
Taking a trip by Oklahoma’s
capital building might lead
you near the site of Cowen’s
life work. The Oklahoma Historical Society’s new building
called the Oklahoma Historical Center houses the photo
archives, along with numerous
other state artifacts.
When Cowen arrived to
his job in 1990 at the Historical Society, there were about
64,000 images that he had to
work with. Within the 20-year
span, he has built the collection to over nine million, with
an average of 475,000 new images per year.
With all these photographs
under his supervision, Cowen
has a sizable job to do in keeping up with valuable pieces of
Oklahoma’s history. The duties
of Cowen, and the rest of the
Historical Society is to date,
sort, archive, preserve, and
make available to the people
all of the images in the archive.
“It’s a lot of work, but its what
we do,” said Cowen as he joyfully described his career.
When dating the incoming
photographs, Cowen and his
team use a wide knowledge
of history and photograph ex-
pertise to determine the year it
was taken. Some images can
be dated without even seeing
the picture, said Cowen. He
went on to tell how one can
greatly narrow the timeframe
of the photo by just the texture
of the photo.
When it comes to archiving
and sorting the documents,
Cowen and his colleges use a
very detailed system to keep
the photos organized and categorized. They are copied and
referenced by year and subject
matter. Along with the new
building, came the ability for
large scale scanning. All the
images are in the process of
being scanned and made available for the public.
All the images that have
been scanned into digital format are available to the public
to use for research purposes
and are free on the website in
72 dpi. Higher quality images
can be purchased for other
use, and are available upon
request in 300 dpi.
To keep the photos preserved, the photos are carefully cleaned, put into sleeves
that contain certain chemical
qualities best suited for preserving the particular image
and then stored in a dark room
to prevent light determination. “These images will stay
preserved for a very long time
and we hope to have better
methods in the future that will
keep them even longer,” says
Cowen.
Cowen has had the pleasure of working with valuable
pieces of Native American
history during his career. He
has archived the Will T. Nelson collection, whose “work
was widely used for Choctaw
purposes,” said Cowen.
Nelson was a photographer
who sent out a small publication titled “Hello Choctaw.”
This publication was admired
by the chief at the time, David
Garner, and was made permanent. “Hello Choctaw” later
took a name change and is now
the “Biskinik.”
Cowen is now retired from
his position at the Historical
Society, but his work is far from
over. In his retirement Cowen
plans to publish a monograph
on how to date family photos.
He plans on having this work
completed within two years.
Cowen also plans to keep
studying images for the society
in order to better preserve the
history of the state. He has left
his mark in history be preserving the image of Oklahoma. If
the phrase “a picture is worth
a thousand words” holds true,
then Cowen has helped Oklahoma tell a nine billion-word
story.
THE PROCESS:
Transforming raw bamboo
into an instrument
Presley cuts the bamboo and lets it dry out for about
two weeks before it’s ready to be used. Not counting this
cutting and drying out process, it usually takes him about
four to six hours to craft a flute.
Native American flutes have two air chambers, however, the piece of bamboo has three sections separated
by two dividers. It’s important to pop out the divider
between the lower bamboo joints while it’s still green;
otherwise, if it’s dried out the piece is likely to crack. If
he doesn’t get it out while it’s green he burns it out when
it dries by heating a long metal pick and burning through
the divider. The divider in the top is left in place.
Next he rough sands the piece to remove the outer skin.
He uses a pencil and marks
a line down the front and back
of the bamboo, and in front and
behind the node (joint) that
still has the divider intact. He
makes six pencil marks along
the top, measuring from the
node, at 2-3/4 inches, 1-1/8,
1-1/8, 1-1/4, 1-1/8, 1-1/8. This is the only part of the flute
that is measured; the rest is done by eye or feel.
Next, he draws the “duck
bill” on the end of the flute
then uses a hand saw to remove
the sides. He says the duck or
crane bill is in the stories of
many tribes and is symbollic as
a prayer for rain.
He then burns the holes into
it by heating a metal rod and
poking it through at the marks he measured off, saying
drilling would cause it to splinter. The flute has eight
holes burned into it – the six going down the body and
two near the top on each side of the node.
The node “is where the music
is made; it has to be just right,”
he says. He scrapes out a hollow area between the two holes
to create the “saddle.” This allows the air to flow out the top
hole, under the birdie, or tuner,
through the saddle and out through the bottom holes,
where he manipulates the sound with his fingertips.
He holds on a test tuner to try out the flute. He blows
in to test the sound. If it’s not quite right he’ll make a
few adjustments, deepening the saddle by whittling out a
little more. He’ll test it again, continuing his fine-tuning.
He can’t say how he knows what tweaks to make; it’s just
something he can hear and feel.
He then hand sands the rough edges and rounds off the
ends.
Using a propane-fueled
flame, he “cures” the flute,
starting at the ends. He scorches the bamboo to a chocolate
brown color, which helps to
crystallize the sap, making it
harder, stronger and last longer. The sap pops out when
heated and makes a crackling
sound. He has to be careful about the amount of heat he
applies so it doesn’t crack.
He lets it cool for about 10
minutes, and then sands the
flute by hand to remove the
excess burned areas, giving it
a better color and smoother appearance.
He takes a small, square
piece of cedar and marks where
he wants to cut the birdie, then uses a band saw to cut it
out. He sands the birdie by hand, rounding off the edges.
He then places the birdie over the two tops holes already
burned into the flute and sands it down to make a perfect
fit. Each birdie is unique to the flute for which it was
created.
He buffs each piece to shine
and to smooth it out. He then
burns his “mark,” into the
backside of the piece. His
mark consists of his initials
and the year on the outside of
two crossed arrows. He started
putting his mark on his flutes in
1998. A lady wanted a flute for her husband but wanted
Presley to put his mark on it, identifying him as the artist
who made it. Since then, every flute he creates carries
his mark.
Last, he takes a long, thin
strip of leather and wraps it
several times around the birdie
and the flute, tying it in a tight
double knot over the node and
saddle.
He does one final test. He puts
his mouth to the top and out of the
flute comes the smooth, unique
sound that only bamboo can make.
“Amazing Grace” is his song of
choice. He sets it down, satisfied
with the result. Smiling, he says,
“Sounds pretty good, I reckon.”
Choctaw Nation honors veterans in its districts
Antlers
Broken Bow
The Choctaw Nation
of Oklahoma
honored the
veterans in each
of its 12 districts
during the months of
June and July. Each
was presented with
gifts from the tribe
and treated to a special meal. Their names
go on special plaques
that hang in each
Community Center.
Coalgate
Spiro
Crowder
McAlester
Atoka
Poteau
Atoka
Smithville
Stigler
Five Tribes Story
Conference planned
for September
Thank you
to all
of our
veterans!
Talihina
Idabel
The Five Tribes Story Conference, hosted by the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee, will be Sept. 24 and 25 at
the historic Bacone College.
The purpose of the Five Tribes Story Conference is to create an annual event unprecedented in Indian Country. It will
provide an enriching southeastern tribal environment; a joining of academic, interpretive, literary, and performance disciplines. Cultural performances and literary readings will be
followed by academic-focused panels, featuring leaders in the
four disciplines.
Stories, whether written, enacted, or illustrated, instill deep
cultural connections. Intended to preserve, protect, and perpetuate culture. Stories build multi-cultural and multi-generational bridges and engage involvement.
Crucial to the effective impacts of stories are context, audience, performance, and intent. The conference will bring
together tribal participants in the fields of history, ethnology,
performance, and literature to discuss how each discipline informs the other. Sessions and panels dedicated to specific topics will engage participants in an open and interactive format.
Tim Tingle (Choctaw) will help co-host the conference and
is the keynote speaker for Friday morning’s opening. He is an
award-winning author, storyteller, and folklorist. Tim travels
the nation to schools, libraries, universities, museums, and
tribal events presenting stories and cultural lessons gleaned
from a lifetime of deep involvement in Choctaw oral history.
In addition to Tim Tingle, 15 well known authors, anthropologists, historians and storytellers will take part in the conference. The list includes: Choogie Kingfisher, (a Kituwah
Cherokee), Ryan Mackey (Cherokee), Stella Long (Choctaw),
Lorie Robins (Chickasaw), Greg Rodgers (Choctaw/Chickasaw), Phillip Harjo (Seminole), Richard Adams (Choctaw),
Diane Glancy (Cherokee), Dr. Les Hannah (Cherokee), Linda
Hogan (Chickasaw), LeAnne Howe (Choctaw), Dr. Phillip
Carroll Moargan (Chickasaw/Choctaw), Dr. Daniel Littlefield (Cherokee), Joyce Bear (Muscogee), and Dr. Pete Coser
(Muscogee).
The conference has a limited enrollment so plan to enroll
early. Evening performances will held at the Five Civilized
Tribes Museum and are open to the public free of charge.
For more information about the Five Tribes Story Conference visit fivetribestory.org, call 918-683-1701, or e-mail
5civilizedtribes@sbcglobal.net.
The Five Tribes Story Conference is made possible in part
the Oklahoma Humanities Council and We the People initiative through the National Endowment of the Humanities.
OK Choctaws list
August activities
Talihina
Wilburton
Wright City
The OK Choctaw Tribal Alliance (OCTA) in Oklahoma
City is having its August taco sale on Saturday, Aug. 14, from
11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.. This will also include storytelling from
about 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. by Greg Rodgers, a professional
Native American storyteller, and a longtime OCTA member
and former board member of the Alliance. The taco sales are
held the second Saturday each month.
The Alliance is also planning to have a breakfast fundraiser
the following Saturday, Aug. 21, from 8-11 a.m. The menu
will include pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, etc. In addition to the breakfast there will be
homemade fruit pies for sale. Greg Rodgers will also be there
with his storytelling again.
Also, the Alliance will have its taco trailer at Tushka Homma this year from Sept. 2-6 selling their Indian Tacos. The
secret is in the soft bread and meat sauce. This will be followed by their monthly Taco Sale on Saturday, Sept. 11, from
11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
They just finished up a busy month in July with their parade
float being in the Libertyfest Parade in Edmond on July 3,
their monthly taco sale on July 10, serving Indian Tacos for
the Synod of the Sun held at the First Presbyterian Church in
Oklahoma on July 17, and having their taco wagon at the Indian Hills Powwow from the 23rd to the 25th of July in north
Oklahoma City.
The Alliance is located at 5320 S. Youngs Blvd., in Oklahoma City, about five blocks north of Southwest 59th Street between May and Pennsylvania Avenues. For information about
membership, contact Phyllis Been at 405-535-8418 (cell), or
Judith Bryant at 405-755-6983.
Veterans Advo
Veterans
Veterans
Pr
VeteransAdvocacy
Advocacy Program
of the
Choctaw Nation
of Oklahoma
To assure that Choctaw veterans
receive benefits and services
on par with other veterans
Choctaw Nation
Veterans Advocates
Brent Oakes and John Lance
P.O. Box 1210, Durant, OK 74702-1210
1-800-522-6170, ext. 2163 or 2160
Fax: 580-920-3155
Hugo
Dale Allen ‘Chuckie’ Williams
Dale Allen Williams 58, passed away
March 26, 2010, at his home in Peoria,
Ariz. He was born August 13, 1951, at
the old Indian hospital in Phoenix.
He owned and operated Choctaw
Trucking for many years. He sold his
trucks when diabetes got the best of
him but it didn’t slow him down.
He loved to fish, hunt and boat the
Colorado River and area lakes. Chuckie was a great cook. He loved to grill and acted as camp cook
on many hunting trips with his family and friends. He loved the
mountains, especially those in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.
He was proud of his Choctaw heritage. He took his Pops to
visit Oklahoma during his last years and visited all the important
places in the Scott/Williams history. While there they dropped by
to visit with Chief Pyle at his office.
Chuckie carried on the gift given to him by his father as a storyteller. His stories will be repeated by all who loved him. He
was a lifelong resident of Peoria. He graduated from Peoria High
School, played football and was on the wrestling team. Chuckie
was a family man and he loved “his people.” Those people included his family and many, many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Williams Jr.
and Udell Scott Williams. He is a great-grandson of original enrollee Frank Williams Sr.
Chuckie is survived by his wife of five years, Susan; daughter
Shannel Wells; granddaughters, Manaia and Nohea; son Billy;
grandson Wyatt; brothers, Gerald, Floyd and Dan; sisters, Ruby
Wilson and husband Del, Rachel Minor and husband Doug, Norma Gregg and husband Donny, and Sandra Howard; Jimmie and
nieces and nephews.
His ashes were scattered over the mountains of the Smith River
area of Montana.
James Finis Garland
James Finis Garland, born December of 1932, died April 17,
2010, at the age 77. He was born in Garland to Jim and Jewell
Garland and in August of 1939 the family moved to Wasco, Calif. Finis attended local schools and graduated from Wasco High
School in 1952 where he is remembered for his athletic ability in
all sports. He married his high school friend and soul mate, Lilly
Ferne Mears on Jan. 24, 1953.
He joined the Army in May of 1953 and served 19 months in
Germany. He was honorably discharged in May 1955. In October
of 1955, Finis began his career with Monolith Portland Cement
Company in Tehachapi and retired in December of 1985. In 1987,
he and Lilly moved to Santa Maria to enjoy retirement, where
they lived until his death.
So many things can be said about Finis. He was a hard worker,
always put his family first, and always gave a helping hand to others. He was a quiet man and no one knows all the things he did for
others. His greatest pleasure was walking on the beach, feeding
the squirrels and enjoying nature. He loved God, respected others
for their beliefs and he also had a sense of humor.
His great-grandfather, Joseph G. Garland Sr., was Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of the Choctaw Nation from 1891-1905.
Finis will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 57 years,
Lilly Ferne; grandson Rodney Garland and wife Kristy of Bakersfield; great-grandchildren, Chyann and Joshua Garland; sister Ina Kay and husband Jim Bark of Pocola; and so many other
relatives and special friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three sons, Randy,
Rodney and a baby boy; and his brother, Harold Garland.
Lisa Y. Johnson
Lisa Y. Johnson, 52, passed awayApril 11, 2010, in Albuquerque, N.M.
She was the beloved daughter of William and Wanda Lewis Urabazo and the
great-great-granddaughter of the late
Nicholas Araspar, Wichita allottee and
Susie Araspar, Wichita allottee, and the
great-granddaughter of the late Adolphus (Arispi) Araspar, Whichita allottee and Edna Rios (Arispi) Araspar, and
the late Jessie and Bettie Martin Lewis, both original enrollees,
and the granddaughter of the late Joe and Lucy Urabazo, Anadarko, and Sina Lewis of Atoka.
Formerly LaWanda Yvonne Urabazo of Anadarko, she graduated from Anadarko High School where she was a band member
and a baton twirler. She later attended Highlands University, Las
Vegas, N.M., where she met her husband, Robert T. Johnson II.
Air Force life took them to Honolulu, Hawaii and there their son,
Robert Johnson III, was born. They settled in Albuquerque, and
she became a Registered Nurse. She was diagnosed a diabetic
when she was six, and her kidneys began to fail in her 40s. She
chose not to undergo dialysis.
She was preceded in death by a younger sister, Karen Sue
Urabazo.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Johnson, of the home;
son Robert T. Johnson III and wife Maria; a granddaughter, Madison Johnson; two sisters and their spouses, Marsha and James
Scott of Atoka and Billie “Lee” Urabazo and James Hall of Albuquerque; parents William and Wanda Urabazo of Lawton; and
many uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews and other relatives.
Ruth Ludlow
Ruth Ludlow, 97, of Hugo passed
away June 28, 2010. Ruth was born
April 5, 1913, in Nashoba, to Thomas
Hardy and Littie (Noah) Hardy. She
lived most of her life in the Hugo area
and enjoyed gardening, fishing, making quilts and reading her Bible.
Ruth was preceded in death by her
parents; sons, Johnny Ray Ludlow and
Billy Joe Ludlow; daughter Lettie Jean
Ingram; brothers, Kinley Hardy, Cameron Hardy, Manning Hardy, Victor Hardy, Harvey Hardy and
Osborn Hardy and sisters, Sissie Hardy and Hester Hardy.
She is survived by sons, Bobby Ludlow and wife Ruby of
Honobia, Roy Ludlow and wife Margaret of Antlers, and Gaylon
Ludlow and wife Rose of San Antonio, Texas; daughters, Lucille
Ludlow of Talihina and Sarah Hardy of Hugo; and numerous
grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren,
along with many other family and friends.
OBITUARIES
Don Eckelman
Don Eckelman, 83 of Anderson, Calif., passed away May 31, 2010. He was
born in Ringling on March 18, 1927, to
W.D. and Relma Eckelman. He was the
grandson of John Hammons and Elizabeth Heskett of Crowder.
He was founder of Eckelman Painting & Drywall in Salinas, Calif. He was
a Sergeant in the Army during World
War II. He was an Elder with the New
Life Christian Center in Redding and
prior to moving to Anderson, he belonged to the Church of God
in Salinas. Don loved the Lord and often shared he “has had a
wonderful life.” His children and grandchildren feel he has truly
blessed each of them with an amazing legacy.
He is survived by brother Harry and wife Joyce Eckelman of
Redding; sister Gerry and brother-in-law Roy Harper of Yuma,
Ariz.; son-in-law Elmer; daughter Donna (Eckelman) Winfree of
Palo Cedro; son Larry Eckelman of Cottonwood; nine grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Joyce; daughter
Sharon; grandson Danny; and great-grandson Christopher.
Cameron Wilson Hardy
Cameron Wilson Hardy was born
April 29, 1974, to proud parents Aaron
Hardy Sr. of Hugo and Bertha Amos.
He passed away May 12, 2010, after a six-month battle with lukemia.
He wanted more Native Americans to
learn about this disease.
Cameron was a son, father, husband,
uncle, nephew and best friend to many.
He graduated from Guthrie Job Corps
in December 1991. He was a certified carpenter and enjoyed his
work very much. He gave his life to the Lord and was saved in
2005. He attended church at Central Baptist in Oklahoma City.
He enjoyed being in choir and attending events with his children.
He was very proud of his Choctaw heritage.
He had six children, Mekyla, Neiatha, Nathaniel, Mia, Erin and
Lorna. He loved his children very much and thought the world of
each of them. He married Chauncine Hardy on July 17, 1997, and
loved his wife dearly.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Semion and
Maxine Jacobs; sisters, Gwendolyn and Morgan Lee Postoak.
Ruth (Power) Arnold Doan
Ruth (Power) Arnold Doan, 95, formerly of Eagletown, passed away April
18, 2010, at Memorial Heights Nursing
Home in Idabel. She was born on June
18, 1914, to Addy M. Power and Mattie
M. (Harris) Power at Pleasant Hill.
Ruth was a generous mother, grandmother and teacher. She was always
ready to lend a hand or donate to a
child’s cause. Her career as a teacher
spanned 30 years, beginning in Wright City, Mount Herman and
finally Eagletown Schools.
Ruth enjoyed sewing and cooking and was always willing to
whip up a meal or a coconut crème pie on a moment’s notice. She
always had a song in her heart and loved gospel music. Some of
her favorite times were spent with the family gathered around the
piano, harmonizing to “I’ll Fly Away” and other gospel favorites.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Nelson,
Wallace and Milburn; daughter Virginia; and two grandchildren.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Aubry and Ina
Arnold of Eagletown; a daughter and son-in-law Glenna and Sonny Minter of Idabel; a sister Margaret Gillenwater of Lebanon,
Ore.; three sisters-in-law, Jackie Power of Denton, Texas, Soledad Power of North Hill, Calif., and Alta Power of Pleasant Hill;
10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and nine great-greatgrandchildren; along with numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Ramona Allen
Ramona Allen, 80, of Tulsa died May 30, 2010. She was born
March 27, 1930, in Hoyt to Rolf and Ora (Gideon) Holder. Ramona worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield for many years, and
retired from NATCO as a key punch operator. She was a member
of Sandusky Christian Church. She enjoyed gardening and cooking. She was the granddaughter of Catherine Crowder Holder, an
original enrollee.
Ramona was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald; brother Wendell, and sister Helen Jean Wyatt.
She is survived by sons, Nelson Ray Allen and wife Sandi
of Tulsa, and Robert W. Allen and wife Ann of Broken Arrow;
grandchildren, James Paynter and wife Courtney, Lisa Allen,
Amanda Williams and husband Will; great-grandchildren, Dylan
and Henry Paynter, Liam Williams; brothers, Reginald Lee Holder of Tulsa, and James Mitchell Holder of Kansas City, Mo.; and
sister-in-law Mary Holder of California.
Sarah ‘Lucille’ Blackard
Sarah “Lucille” Blackard, 93, of Valliant, passed away June 26, 2010. Lucille was born April 16, 1917, in Wister, the daughter of Sam and Florence
(McAlvain) Thomas and had lived in
the Valliant area most of her life.
She married Odell Blackard on Feb.
26, 1954, in Hugo. She was a graduate of Valliant High School and had a
Bachelor of Science in Education from
Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She was a retired school teacher, serving for over 30 years.
She loved her church home, First Baptist Church in Valliant. She
enjoyed spending time with her friends and former students in the
Valliant area, and was devoted to her grandchildren and family.
She was an accomplished artist, vocalist and athlete in her youth.
Lucille was preceded in death by her parents; brother Denver
Thomas; and sister Doris Loftin.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Odell Blackard; son
and daughter-in-law, Joe Thomas Blackard and Tammy Blackard
of Idabel; grandsons, Collin Blackard of New York, N.Y., and
Garrett Blackard of Norman; many cousins, nieces and nephews,
along with numerous other relatives, friends and former students.
Wilma LaTrelle (Layman) Boudreau
Wilma LaTrelle (Layman) Boudreau
passed away on June 23, 2010, after a
long battle with diabetes. She was born
Dec 28, 1933, in Bennington to Charlie
J. Layman and Thelma Beames Layman. She was the grandchild of original enrollee Josiah Beames and Minnie Sauls Beames. She grew up in the
Bennington/Bokchito area where she
attended Beames School in Bennington and graduated from Bokchito High
School. She later moved to Denver, Colo., where she met and
married Merrill Russell Boudreau on July 9, 1963. He was manager of the Bootery and they lived and traveled in many states
finally settling in Durant after he retired. He preceded her in death
in 1986.
Throughout her life, Wilma worked hard and enjoyed a variety
of interests including being a den mother for the cub scouts, playing bingo, doing craft projects, gardening, fishing and enjoyed
participating in the Choctaw senior citizens program. She was
very proud of her Choctaw heritage. Wilma worked as a domestic engineer at Tufte Manor Retirement Home in Grand Forks,
N.D., for 14 years before moving to Durant where she worked
for Four Seasons Nursing Center. She was a member of the VFW
Women’s Auxiliary and the DAV.
Wilma’s greatest enjoyment in life was her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Left to cherish her memory is daughter Wilma Claudine Allison-Feest and Albert of Racine, Wis.; sons, George Boudreau
and Candi of Tampa, Fla.; Michael Layman and Stacia of Halstad, Minn.; Robert Laymon and Joslyn of Pearly, Minn.; stepdaughter Yvonne Christensen and David of Weslaco, Texas.; and
stepson Terrance Boudreau and Ruth of California; three sisters,
Phyllis Goar of Oklahoma City, Jackie Heinz and Duane of Bismarck, N.D.; Shirley Wallace and Rickey Dean of Durant; Kenneth Layman of Durant and Gary Laymon of Silo; many nieces,
nephews, cousins, friends; and special friend Naomi Hamil.
She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Tyson Allison, Shardae Feest; Brittany Feest, Steven Burgess, Bobby Joe Burgess,
Reed Boudreau, Crystal Laymon, Brandy Laymon, Cassandra
Laymon, and Dori Laymon; step-grandchildren, Jason Boudreau,
Derek Boudreau, and Tamara Boudreau; 16 great-grandchildren,
Eli Allison, Hannah Burgess, Haydn Burgess, Amira LaymonMesna, Bailey Mesna, Payton Mesna, Taylor Mesna, Ethan
Mesna, Dominick Laymon, Izak Rocha, Austin Laymon, Jasmine Rocha, Anthony Laymon, Skylar Laymon, Ricky Gonzalas
Jr., Christian and Kingston Alexander, Candice King, Christine
King; great-great-grandchildren Skyler and Blaine Jantzen; and
other great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, in-laws
George and Elvira Boudreau; brothers, David, James and Michael Leroy; sister Jo Ann Wallace; brothers-in-law, Johnnie
Goar and Chester Wallace; stepson Timothy Boudreau; son-inlaw Duane Allison; nieces, Stephanie Layman and Stacy Wallace;
and nephew Tracy Wallace.
Jimmy Charles Pushmataha
Jimmy Charles Pushmataha, 83, died
in Okmulgee on Feb. 8, 2010. He was
born on May 3, 1926, to Lee Roy and
Eunise Cecelia Greenhaw in Miami,
Fla. He was very proud of his Indian
heritage.
Jim graduated from high school in
Los Angeles, Calif., where he earned
all-city honors as a running back and
soon thereafter enlisted in the Navy
during World War II. After his service, he played college football
for Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and ultimately
received his B.A. from the University of Southern California. Jim
began a career playing professional football as a fullback for the
Baltimore Colts, but that path was cut short by injury. An avid
athlete, he also played minor league baseball and tried professional bowling.
Following his career in sports he went into advertising in Los
Angeles. Jim wrote and produced television ads for several large
corporations including Honda. In 1980, he retired and moved to
Okmulgee to care for his mother.
Jim resided at Creek Nation Housing for 30 years. In 2002, he
was elected president of the Creek Nation Elderly Housing Tenant Association. He remained president and was a faithful and
loyal supporter of all residential activities until his death.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Roy and
Gary Greenhaw; and sons Rory Elder and Jimmy Greenhaw.
He is survived by daughter Teresa Weiby and husband Clayton of Edina, Minn.; sons, Paul Greenhaw and wife Patricia of
Scarsdale, N.Y., and Scott Greenhaw of New York City; daughter-in-law Vicki Elder of Monterey, Calif.; grandchildren Brianna
Leavitt-Alcantara and husband Salvador, Travis and Kyle Elder,
Jack and Matthew Weiby, and Tess, Emily, Tommy, and Cody
Greenhaw; and great-grandchild, Mateo Alcantara.
Mary Eslie Adams Hansgen
Mary Eslie Adams Hansgen, 92, passed away June 24, 2010
in Keene, N.H. She was the daughter of an original enrollee.
She is survived by daughters, Judy Wilmeth of Keene, and Jean
Hansgen of Macon, Ga.; son Fredric Hansgen of Lenoir, N.C.;
three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; and two sisters,
Helen Callahan and Emily “Beth” Graham, both of Oklahoma.
Pamela Ann Porter-Roberts
Pamela Ann Porter-Roberts of Deer
River, Minn., passed away April 3,
2010. She was born May 19, 1962,
at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital,
Oceanside, Calif. Pam was a greatgranddaughter of Albert Pike Harkins
and Cena Bessie Davis and a granddaughter of Rod Anderson and Geneva
Harkins.
Pam had been a resident of Deer River for 10 years. She was
very proud of her Choctaw heritage. She was a volunteer at Deer
River Health Care Center.
Survivors include parents B. B. and Helen Porter of Olathe,
Kan.; brother Rod Porter of Stillwell, Kan.; grandmother Geneva
Anderson of Amarillo, Texas; aunt Janice Hughes of Amarillo;
two cousins of Amarillo and one of Midland, Texas.
Choctaw veteran chosen
for Oklahoma Honor Flight
By LARISSA COPELAND
DARE car wins award
By BRET MOSS
“We’ve actually had a truck driver call and ask if we could
pull him over,” stated Executive Director John Hobbs of the
Choctaw Tribal Police Department. This truck driver was not
looking for an encounter with the police, but for a picture of
their squad car. The 2010 Chevy Camaro SS is definitely an
eye-catcher, but this particular vehicle is a must-see.
In February, the Tribal Police Department of the Choctaw
Nation invested in the visually appealing demonstration of
American muscle. “I wanted something that was going to be
different,” stated Hobbs.
The vehicle is not just for looks and upholding the law,
but is also used as an aid in teaching elementary children the
harmful effects of drugs and how to avoid them. The Camaro
is the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) car for Durant and the surrounding area.
The police departments that host DARE programs all have
their own DARE cars, and they take a trip to Oklahoma City
to compete in an annual event titled “Oklahoma DARE Officer Association Car Show,” to see who has the best of the
year. This year, Officer Nathan Calloway of the Choctaw
Tribal Police Department took home the trophy for best car
of the year with his Camaro.
DARE is a program that began in 1983 Los Angeles, as
a result of the efforts of the late LAPD Police Chief Daryl
Gates who wanted to prevent the youth from getting involved
with drugs and other destructive habits.
Now DARE is a functioning program in all 50 states of
the United States as well as in 43 countries worldwide. In
elementary schools, the fifth grade classes are privileged with
partaking in the DARE program and taught how to avoid substance abuse and the peer pressure that leads to it.
The DARE car is used to inspire dialogue among the
DARE students. “It gets the kids talking,” said Officer Calloway. “The ones that don’t usually like to talk will begin to
get involved,” continued Calloway.
The DARE car is not just for show, it is very capable of getting the job done. The V8, 6.2-liter engine, 426 horsepower
and 20-inch wheels enable this vehicle to reach destinations
quickly when needed.
The looks of the car are almost as impressive as the machinery under the hood. Blue racing stripes down the center and tribal graphics and text on the side have turned many
heads. “It gets attention everywhere it goes,” stated Hobbs as
he described the look of the car. One Stop Graphics of Durant
handled the graphics, and Shipman Communication installed
the patrol lights.
It’s not just the kids of the DARE program that get excited
to see the exceptional automobile, but just about every one
who sees it can’t help but want to see more. Officer Calloway tells of many occasions when the neighborhood kids will
come to his door asking to take a look and a light display.
Whether catching the bad guy, winning the award, or helping spark interest in the classroom, the DARE car is something in which the officers and the community can take pride.
Choctaw Code Talkers documentary
comes to public television in Fall 2010
Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc. (NAPT)
proudly announces the release of a new documentary that examines the pivotal role that Choctaw soldiers played in helping shape
an earlier end of World War I.
In 1918, not yet citizens of the United States, Choctaw members
of the American Expeditionary Forces were asked by the government to use their Native language as a powerful tool against the
German Forces in World War I, setting a precedent for code talking
as an effective military weapon and establishing them as America’s
Original Code Talkers.
Co-produced by Red-Horse Native Productions, Inc., Valhalla
Motion Pictures and Native American Public Telecommunications,
Inc. (NAPT), “Choctaw Code Talkers” will transport viewers back
to World War I for an intimate and engaging look into the lives of
these brave men, their families, their dreams and their patriotism to
a country who would remember them as heroes, but not until after
their death.
“The government had sworn them to secrecy about what they
did,” said Evangeline Wilson, relative of Code Talkers Mitchell
Bobb and James Edwards, Sr.
Choctaw Code Talkers is a follow-up to the award-winning documentary “True Whispers: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers,”
a PBS nationally broadcast documentary produced by Valerie RedHorse, President, of Red-Horse Native Productions, Inc. with Gale
Anne Hurd, CEO, of Valhalla Motion Pictures.
“By launching the original concept of code talking for secure
military communications, these brave Choctaw men laid the foundation for all other battlefield code talkers, including the Navajo,
who were so instrumental in World War II. Even though it is overdue, nearly 100 years since their service, I am honored to be a part
of bringing this important American story to the screen,” RedHorse said.
In World War I, by 1918, the German Forces had deciphered the
Allied Forces’ radio codes, tapped into their phone lines and captured messenger runners in order to anticipate the Allied strategies.
The Allied Forces were desperate to attain secure communications
and requested Choctaw soldiers to use their language to transmit
messages in the field and from the trenches.
“This is an important story of heroic men whose wartime contributions helped to change the course of world history. Their Code
was created while the men risked their lives fighting in Northern
France during the fiercest and bloodiest battles of World War I. The
Choctaw American Indian soldiers outwitted their German opponents, turning the tide of the War and ensuring the Allied victory,”
said Hurd.
At an age when boys are usually preoccupied with things
like impressing girls, doing
homework and following their
favorite sports teams, 15-yearold Isaac “Ike” Simpson of
Hugo was making a decision
that would change his life –
joining the military during a
time of war. In 1939, just out of
the eighth grade, Ike enlisted in
the Oklahoma Army National
Guard and would soon be on
his way overseas to fight for his
country in World War II.
Following in his older
brother, Edgar’s, footsteps, Ike
joined Company F, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division.
“The recruiter knew (that I was
too young) but asked ‘can you
carry a rifle?’ I said I could and
he enlisted me right then,” he
said, setting in motion a journey
of a lifetime.
Now, fast-forward 70 years.
Ike was once again asked to
take a trip because of his service
to his country so long ago, only
this time it included no bullets
being shot at him, no danger of
enemies, no weapon in hand.
This trip was to honor him. Ike
and 98 other World War II veterans from Oklahoma were selected to go on an all-expensespaid trip to Washington, D.C.,
on May 17 on the inaugural
Oklahoma Honor Flight to visit
the monuments and memorials
dedicated to them, and all the
men and women who served
during the war.
Oklahoma Honor Flights, an
organization made up of volunteers who raise money to
charter the flights and cover all
expenses for these World War II
veterans, flew the group from
Will Rogers World Airport in
Oklahoma City to Washington
for a rainy, but full day touring
the sites. They visited the World
War II, Korean War and Vietnam memorials, the statue of
Iwo Jima, Arlington Cemetery,
and while there, they witnessed
the Changing of the Guard at
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Buses carried the veterans
and their “guardians,” persons
tagging along to assist the
group, to the memorials. Ike’s
guardian was Gary Banz, Oklahoma State Representative,
District 101.
The visit, the first for Ike to
the nation’s capitol since traveling through on a troop train
so many years ago on his way
to prepare for the war and, ultimately, to the ship that would
carry him to battle, was an
emotional experience for him.
“It brought back a lot of feelings that I haven’t felt in a long
time,” he said. “It was very
sad. It all comes back to you
and takes you back to what
you were doing during the war.
I wouldn’t have missed it for
The 45th Infantry Division marches down Fifth Avenue in New York City before deploying
overseas in World War II. Ike and his brother, Edgar, were part of the Color Guard leading
the formation.
Ike Simpson
anything.”
“I wondered if any of my
buddies that were killed were
buried there (in Arlington.) I
never knew what happened to
the ones that died,” he said.
Ike, a private first class at the
time the 45th was called up for
mobilization in 1940, served as
an infantry/rifleman. The Division deployed in 1943 to the
European theater of operations,
spending 23 days traveling
across the Atlantic on a combatloaded ship to reach their destination. After landing in northern Africa, they continued to
train for a week in preparations
for their first combat mission,
many of them not realizing the
magnitude of it until after it was
over – the invasion of Sicily.
Ike and his oldest brother,
Edgar, were in the first wave of
soldiers to come ashore during
the amphibious assault. They
fought bravely during the sixweek land battle throughout
Sicily, where Edgar was injured
and sent back to the United
States to recuperate. (After
healing, he returned back to
combat to fight in Germany.)
“There was so little commo
(communication) over there.
We didn’t have radios like they
do today but we did our best to
know what everyone else was
doing,” he said.
“Going in on the beach, I
wasn’t scared, not until the
bullets whizzed by me or until
I experienced the barrage of
fire,” he said, explaining the
atmosphere. “It’s scary but it’s
over with really quick and we’d
be ready to go again.”
On his next major mission,
Ike was also in the first wave
of the troops in the invasion at
Salerno, Italy. He saw many
of his brothers-in-arms fall in
combat.
“It was bad. I lost a lot of
friends, a few of them right beside me. I was just one of the
lucky ones,” he said, recalling many instances of “close
calls” including once making it
through an artillery barrage that
took the life of his close friend
and fox-hole buddy. “That one
is still with me.”
Truly an experience unforgettable, with emotion in his
voice, he recalled some of the
more intense moments he faced
during combat, “It was scary
but we just faced it. I had many
close calls. We all did what we
were trained to do in order to
stay alive.”
“I carried a BAR (Browning
Automatic Rifle) for most of
my time over there,” he said,
explaining one of his more vivid memories. “One night, I was
supposed to go on a mounted
patrol but a buddy who had a
hurt foot asked if he could go
on my patrol in the Jeep and
I take his foot patrol. I traded
weapons with him; I took his
smaller M1 rifle and he took
my BAR. On his way back to
camp on that patrol, a German
tank blew up all three vehicles
in that entire patrol, killing
them all,” he continued. “God
didn’t want me to die that day.
I carried his rifle for the rest of
my tour.”
“You don’t forget those moments,” he said, still affected by
it all these years later.
“We didn’t pay attention to
the day or the time. We walked
everywhere. We walked all
across Sicily and Italy. I spent a
year on my feet,” he said. “But
I made it home alive, both of us
did, me and my brother.”
Upon returning from the
war, Ike stayed in the Oklahoma National Guard for two
more years, being honorably
discharged as a Sergeant. He
got his GED and later attended Southeastern State College
in Durant. He went on to play
semi-professional baseball in
Texas and Louisiana.
It was during that time that
he met his future wife, Bobbie,
a farm girl from Soper.
“When we met, he’d been all
around the world and I’d never
even left Choctaw County at
that time,” said Bobbie, thinking back of their chance meeting at a café in Hugo.
Shortly after their wedding
Ike went to work for Choctaw
Electric Co-Op, where he retired after 43 years of service.
Ike and Bobbie have been
married for 54 years now and
reside on a portion of his parents’ original Indian land allotment in Hugo. They have two
sons, Mike and Alan, seven
grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren. With the exception of his time spent in service
to his country, Ike has spent all
his life in Hugo.
“I was glad to come home. I
was glad when the war ended,”
he said. “There are a lot of stories from my time over there…
a lot of stories.”
Six summer camps are offered annually to Choctaw youth
Continued from Page 1
With the help of his assistants, Kevin is responsible for setting up
the dates, locations and times for all the camps. He’s also in charge
of ordering the sports equipment that is given to the campers and
responsible for finding and hiring coaches.
“Over the years I meet lots of coaches,” said Kevin. The Summer
Youth Camps have responsible coaches and staff who are motivated
to give the kids a good time while teaching them about the sport
or activity of their choice. “When I tell the coaches what I do, and
ask if they would like to help in the summers, they jump at the opportunity.”
There are six camps offered to the kids. The camp that shows
kids different aspects of the Choctaw heritage and culture, the cultural enrichment camp, gives them some exciting opportunities. The
campers take part in stickball, archery, arts and crafts, storytelling
and the Choctaw language.
Though the cultural enrichment camp gives campers the chance
to shoot a bow and arrow and play some stickball, it’s the golf camp
that usually has the most participants. It’s the staff and instructors’
priority to teach each participant, whether it be a first-time golfer or
an advanced golfer, the rules and game of golf.
“My personal favorite [camp] is golf,” Kevin said, “because I
love to play golf myself.” The golf camp is also Kevin’s favorite
sport to put his coaching skills to work. “Because I play so much, I
feel I can help all skill levels with something in their golf games.”
The baseball and softball camps were conducted by former Division I players from the Big XII and ACC Conference in softball and
top Oklahoma high school coaches. The players were coached in
areas of hitting, pitching and fielding. Each camper was given the
proper instruction that will help improve his or her level of play.
They were also shown how setting goals and self-discipline will not
only help their playing ability, but help them in their everyday lives
off of the field.
During the basketball camp, the campers learned fundamental
skills of basketball to use throughout his or her school career with
the ultimate goal of playing college-level basketball. They picked
up tips from high school head coaches and former university players.
The football camp this summer featured the University of Oklahoma’s Assistant Coach and Quarterback Coach, Josh Heupel, former Big XII players and former NFL coaches. The boys received
instruction in areas of offensive drills, defensive drills and Sooner
ball.
The Summer Youth Camps have about 2,500 kids participate each
summer. The selection of activities, from learning the Choctaw language to hitting a homerun, give Choctaw children opportunities to
have a fun summer learning more about the sport they love to play.
“I feel very fortunate to work for great employees at the Choctaw
Nation,” said Kevin. “Without everyone’s help from my department
and all other departments that volunteer their time, these camps
would not be possible.”
If you are interested in getting your child active next summer,
the application deadlines for each camp are in April. Applications
have to include copies of the child’s Certificate of Degree of Indian
Blood card and Choctaw Nation membership card. Saying, “I can’t
wait to see the kids again next year,” Kevin is already anxious to
get started for the summer of 2011. Whichever of the six camps
your child chooses to attend, the coaches, along with the Cultural
Events and Summer Camps employees, promise them a fun, active
and educational time.
The process of making Choctaw traditional pottery
By DR. IAN THOMPSON
The main raw material in
Choctaw pottery is clay, dug
straight from the ground.
When looking for a new clay
source, areas where multiple
layers of soil are exposed,
such as construction sites, or
the steep banks of streams are
ideal. Clay can be nearly any
color, but is recognized from
a distance by its slightly shiny
luster.
Good pottery clay is sticky
workable, like Playdough®.
English-speaking potters refer
to clays that have this tight,
sticky texture as being “fat.”
Interestingly, in the Choctaw
language, the term for clay
is “lukfi nia,” or literally “fat
dirt.” In addition to having the
appropriate texture, the clay
must also have a low shrinkage
rate as it dries, and the ability
to withstand high heat without
cracking or spalling. If a potter
hasn’t used particular clay before, the best way to evaluate
these latter two properties is to
simply make a small test pot
out of the clay and see how the
clay responds during the following production steps:
Once a clay has been located it is dug out of the earth
by hand, and is then carefully
cleaned of any roots, sticks,
or rocks that may be inside it.
This is often done by breaking
the clay into small pieces and
fishing out the foreign objects.
After cleaning is complete,
the pottery-making potential of
most clays can be improved by
mixing them with amounts of
clean, sifted non-plastic material, called temper. Tempering
materials used by ancestral
Choctaw potters through time
include finely chopped organic
material, such as pine needles,
sand, burned and crushed limestone, crushed up pieces of old
pottery, burned and crushed
mussel shell, and burned and
crushed animal bone. The addition of these materials opens
up the structure of the clay,
helping it to dry evenly. Temper particles also help to physically block any cracks that
may begin to form in the clay
itself. The amount of temper
that is added depends on the
type of material being used
and the quality of the clay itself. In general terms, the more
temper that is added to the
clay, the less likely a pot made
from it will crack. Sandy, organic clays may require very
little temper, while some of the
very sticky clays from the Red
Clay creations a passion for McMahon
By LISA REED
Brown eyes crinkle as Mary McMahon
laughs and says that the old adage, “Idle hands
are the devil’s playground,” will never apply to
her.
She sits at her dining room table which is
covered with traditional Choctaw pottery and
describes the pleasure she derives from the
creations, beginning with the hunt for the
perfect clay.
“Everyone calls us clay hounds,” she says.
Her husband, Dan, nods in agreement.
The two travel all over southeastern Oklahoma with shovels and buckets. They bring
home black clay from Talihina, yellow clay
from Atoka, red clay from Yanush, and were
excited to find a whole ribbon of white clay
near McAlester.
“The white is hard to find,” Mary said,
describing the way it ran – a ribbon of red, a
ribbon of white, another ribbon of red. “We
found it by the lake and asked the people who
lived there if we could get some of it.”
Bags of clay are labeled with where the
McMahons found it and are stored in a back
room of their home. Some were brought to
them by their instructor, Ian Thompson, and are
marked with “Louisiana,” “Mississippi,”
“Alabama,” and “Tom, Okla.” The McMahons
in turn share their clay with other class members.
“We think the clay from Mississippi will fire
pink,” Mary says, holding up the bag full of a
definitely pink-tinted clay. She can’t wait to get
started on it.
The McMahons began taking traditional
River are able to take as much
as 50 percent temper. For pots
that are to be used for eating or
serving food, the temper material is usually ground into a
powder. Pots that are to be used
for cooking usually have larger
temper particles.
The clay and temper are
thoroughly mixed to form a
clay body. For hundreds of
years, our Choctaw ancestors
used several techniques to
shape a clay body into a pot.
The most basic method was to
form the clay body into a ball,
stick a thumb into the ball, and
then begin pinching and turning the clay to make a “pinch
pot.” Our ancestors also made
“coil pots” by rolling the clay
body into thin coils, or snakes,
and then layering them on top
of each other to make the pot’s
basic shape. The coils were
then pinched together and often beaten with a small paddle
to compress them. Our ancestors also made pottery using a
mold technique. For this, the
clay body was simply pushed
Choctaw pottery classes in December 2009.
Dan enjoys it. Mary is passionate about it. She
has created over 60 pots in the seven months
since starting the class.
“My sister told me about the classes and at
first I thought, ‘that isn’t for me,’ but after the
first class I knew it was something I wanted to
do,” she says. “There is no end to what you can
do with the clay.”
Her beginning work is a bit rough around the
edges but the progress is obvious as she points
out the first pinch pot and then her newer pots.
There are pitchers, bowls with handles, bowls
with lids, small ones, large ones, and her
pride-and-joy – a beautiful gray pot with a neck
that stands about 9 inches tall.
A few of the pots have cracks, but Mary
assures there is still a use for them. Broken pots
are used to fire the good pots, she explains.
“It takes about 3 to 4 hours to make a pot,”
Mary says. “First you have to pick all the little
rocks from the clay. I use about as much clay as
you can put in a butter tub – about half clay,
half sand and mix it until it feels right.”
Mary painstakingly etches Choctaw designs
on the pots. She traces the patterns in the clay
and repeatedly goes over them so they will
endure the firing. The patterns provided by
Thompson depict those on ancestral Choctaw
pottery found in Moundville, Ala.
Mary describes her pottery as a hobby, a
pastime, but it has become a legacy she shares
with others. One of her granddaughters,
Brittany Wilson, spent a Sunday afternoon
learning a portion of Choctaw heritage from
Mary. Brittany’s pot sits with Mary’s waiting
for the firing planned in August.
“It is so rewarding,” Mary says. “I look at a
into a shallow dish, taking
on the shape of that dish. The
walls of the new pot could be
shaped by pinching or adding coils to this base. At some
times and places, our ancestors
made pottery by rolling the
clay body out thin like cookie
dough, cutting it into the desired shape, and then rolling or
folding it up to form a pot.
After a pot is made, it is
allowed to dry, slowly and
evenly in a dark, cool place.
This usually takes a couple of
weeks for an eating bowl-sized
piece. When an eating or serving bowl is halfway dried, it
can be burnished, by rubbing
a smooth, round stone quickly
over its surface. This aligns
the tiny clay particles and can
make the pot shiny enough to
give a reflection. Cooking pots
were left with rough textures.
Designs are often scratched
into eating and serving bowls
with sharp objects. At the Trail
of Tears time period, Choctaw
potters made distinctive designs by scratching broken sec-
tions of combs across the clay,
making intricate parallel lines.
Firing is done on a dry, calm
evening, on a piece of ground
that is sheltered from any unexpected wind gusts that may
come up. The method we use
in Choctaw traditional pottery
class has been reconstructed
from the best available information about how our ancestors fired their pottery. First,
the sod is carefully scraped
from the ground. Then, the soil
is turned over with a shovel,
just like in a garden. A large
fire is then built on top of the
churned soil. When the fire
burns down to coals, these
coals are churned down into
the soil, and another fire built
on top. The heat on top of and
inside of the soil dries it out,
and makes it look like cinnamon or cocoa powder. If this
is not done before firing, the
heat from the fire will cause the
ground to give off water vapor,
which will enter the pots and
make them crack.
After the ground is dried,
Wedding to honor native culture
Couple plans
special day
during this
year’s Labor
Day Festival
By BRET MOSS
“It’s important to be
proud of who you are,”
stated Debra Belt as she
reflected on her Choctaw
heritage. She will display
this pride on one of the
most anticipated days in
a person’s life – her wedding day.
Debra Ann Belt, 26, of Oklahoma City, will marry her fiancé,
Erik Estrada Garcia, in a traditional Choctaw wedding ceremony on Sept. 2, 2010, at the Choctaw village in Tushka Homma.
She believes that in having a traditional Choctaw wedding, she
and her future husband will be honoring their native culture in a
meaningful manner.
Erik, age 24 and a Mississippi Choctaw, met Debra in Tushka
Homma during the Labor Day festivities of 2006, where they began their journey toward wedding bells. After Erik met Debra, he
fell in love, which led him to proposing in 2009, during the social
dancing of the Labor Day festivities.
The wedding will consist of many Choctaw traditions, the first
being, “The Choctaw Wedding Chase.” In this event, the bride
will run towards a pole as the groom chases her. If he can catch
her, there will be a wedding, but if she reaches it before he catches her, everyone goes home. Other events at the wedding consist
of: Choctaw gift giving, Choctaw social dancing and a piñata to
celebrate Erik’s Mexican heritage.
“Erik and I notice that many young people are not interested
in learning their Choctaw traditions or culture, so by having a
wedding that will consist of Choctaw traditions, we hope to in-
spire young and old alike
to learn more about their
Choctaw culture, and
hopefully other couples
who are planning to marry will want to include
some of these Choctaw
wedding ceremonies in
their wedding, ” stated
Debra.
This will not be the
first occasion in which
Erik and Debra display
their Choctaw heritage.
Both are avid traditional
Choctaw dancers. As
they dance in pow wows
and many other social
occasions, it is easy to
see that Choctaw runs through their blood.
Erik has been dancing in social dances since he was five. His
family also has a dance troupe in Mississippi. Erik also enjoys
the longtime favored Choctaw sport of stickball, and he plays on
many occasions, including the Labor Day games and Mississippi
games.
Debra has been dancing in pow wows for about seven years.
She was the Oklahoma City Pow Wow Club Princess in ’07 and
’08. She also teaches beadwork at the Oklahoma Choctaw Alliance.
The couple’s future plans consist of starting a photography
business. Debra is certified in photography and Erik plans to attend Oklahoma City Community College to obtain his associate’s
degree in photography as well.
Erik is the son of Robert and Madie Garcia and the descendant
of Lilly Mae Billy, an original Mississippi Choctaw. Debra is the
daughter of Laura Belt and the late Elvis Belt. She is also the
great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Cole Bully-Pistubbee, an original enrollee of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
The wedding will begin at 2 p.m. starting with the Wedding
Chase. The ceremony will follow, with Olin Williams ministering. There will be a reception shortly after the ceremony.
pot and think, ‘I used a piece of clay and made
that’.”
The class meets every other Monday night at
the Choctaw Nation Community Center in
Poteau. Each class lasts 4-1/2 hours. The McMahons enjoy meeting new people and have made a
lot of new friends. They share home-cooked food
and stories while learning a time-honored
tradition. They often stay past the scheduled time
to just visit.
Mary looks forward to moving on from bowls
to pots and pans in pottery class. And she would
like to learn to make baskets ... and beadwork….
There are so many fun ways to keep her hands
busy.
broken pieces of pottery are
laid over the surface of the hot,
dry dirt, creating an isolative
layer. The pottery to be fired
is placed on top, and slowly
begins to heat. Slow heating
helps minimize the chance of
cracks. After some time, a ring
of fire is kindled around the
heating pots, causing their temperature to slowly and evenly
raise higher and higher. Over
the course of an evening, the
ring of fire is slowly scooted
closer to the pottery, until it
begins to touch it. Finally, using thin pieces of wood, the fire
is built right over the pottery.
As this wood burns, it turns to
coals that fall down around the
pots, heating them still higher.
Our ancestors used the
changing colors of the pottery
to gage its temperate. During
the firing process, the pottery
will first turn a dark color as
the clay absorbs the smoke
from the fire. Next, it turns a
light color as the pot gets hot
enough to burn the smoke out
of it.
1
10
At a still higher temperature,
the pot will begin to glow a red
color. At this stage, the edges
of the clay particles have fused
together, functionally firing the
pot and making it useable. Clay
bodies that have shell, bone,
or limestone temper must be
heated no hotter than glowing
red. Clay bodies tempered with
sand can be heated hotter, to
glowing orange.
If the fire is allowed to die
down naturally around the
pots, they will end up with light
and dark fire clouds on them. If
the pots are removed from the
fire while still glowing, they
will end up a solid light color.
The pots can also be smudged
a solid black color by allowing
the fire to burn down until it is
nearly out, then piling it with
dry corn cobs or some other
smoky material, and allowing
it to smoke, putting out any
flames that may rekindle.
The next morning, the pots
can be taken from the firing
area, inspected for cracks, carefully washed, and then used.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
2
3
11
4
5
12
6
7
8
13
15
16
18
9
14
17
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
36
34
35
37
38
39
44
45
47
40
41
43
46
48
50
49
51
ACROSS
3.
Lusachikchiki
5.
Auah Tałapi
10.
Abechakali
13.
Hatak haksi atapa
14.
Ataloa
15.
Taha
16.
Hannali
17.
Yohmi
18.
Ushta
20.
Anakshołi
22.
Auah Tuchina
24.
Untuklo
27.
Nukoa
28.
Holabi
29.
Haksobish
31.
Yaki
32.
Kasheho, sipokni
34.
Tuchina
36.
Auah Achafa
37.
Foha
38.
Pokoli
39.
Bashpo
41.
Pokoli Tuklo
44.
A nh
47.
Pokoli Chakali Akucha Tałhapi
49.
Ala
50.
51.
42
A, pila
Tiak nia
DOWN
1.
Achafa
2.
Amba, anoti
3.
Isi, issi
4.
On, on
5.
Kallochit hilechi
6.
Anunka
7.
Auah Ushta
8.
Tabokoli
9.
Yoshobli
11.
Isht Holissochi
12.
Tuklo
13.
Banna
17.
Na yoshoba
18.
Tałapi
19.
Pi
20.
Auah Untuklo
21.
Imi, immi
22.
Auah Tuklo
23.
Auah Hannali
25.
Auah Untuchina
26.
Chakali
30.
Keyuchohmi
33.
Nipi
35.
Lukfi
39.
Itinkanomi
40.
Inoa, ikhana (short English
version of word)
42.
Foka
43.
Haiyup
45.
Binili
46.
Afama tok
48.
Keyu
Translate the Choctaw words into English and fill in the crossword
puzzle in English. Also, see the “ł” above for the aspirated l.
Answer in September BISKINIK
Thank you, Chief Aufaumatauba’s daughter
For this month’s edition of Iti Fabvssa, we
are diverging slightly from our usual format.
Rather than responding to a written-in question,
we are taking this opportunity to make our readership aware of the positive things that a very
special Choctaw woman has been doing for the
Tribe over the last month and also to thank her.
We can’t give you this woman’s name, but she
is the daughter of Choctaw Chief Aufaumatauba. She was born in what is now southwestern Alabama, in the Oklahannali or “Sixtowns”
District of the Choctaw tribe, sometime around
the year 1800. She grew up and lived there with
her community until her untimely death in her
mid-20s. Her loved ones laid her remains to rest
in a small earth mound, intending for them to
slowly return to the earth in peace.
Around that time, Choctaw leaders at the tribal level ceded this land to the United States in
the Treaty of Hoe Buckintoopa (or “Hobvk Itopa”). As a result, this woman’s community had
to leave her burial behind, and in time, many
of those who knew her were probably forced
to emigrate to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears.
A United States arsenal was soon built near her
burial spot.
As happens much, much too often to our
Choctaw ancestors, without family or friends in
the area to actively watch and protect her grave,
this woman’s bones were dug up by a collector as a kind of morbid trophy. They were then
shipped to the eastern United States, and spent
140 years in collections, eventually ending up
at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
From the traditional Choctaw perspective held
by this woman when she was alive, a perspective that is still held by many tribal members
today, such grave desecration is one of the most
despicable and hurtful offenses that can be done
to a person or a community.
For a long time, tribal people had no recourse
for righting such wrongs. However, beginning
in the late 1980s, Native American organizers
and lawmakers helped bring about legislation
that makes it possible for tribes to reclaim and
repatriate the remains of their ancestors from
among the tens of thousands of Native American
human remains held in the collections of federally funded institutions. In 2004, the Choctaw
Nation of Oklahoma and the repatriation staff
at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural
History (one of whom is herself Choctaw) began
cooperatively working on the long documentation process that would make it legally possible for the museum to return Aufaumatauba’s
d a u g h t e r ’s
remains back
into Choctaw
control.
This summer,
after
six years of
hard work by both parties, the remains were
ready to be transferred to the joint custody of
the three federally recognized Choctaw tribes,
which include the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians,
and the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians. In July,
representatives from each made the journey to
Washington, D.C., for the formal repatriation.
We came with a variety of emotions, but one
expectation likely shared between all of us was
that a wrong was about to be righted. Specifically, after the mistreatment of Aufaumatauba’s
daughter’s remains, something good was going
to be done for her and for the tribe in bringing
her back to her home. However, we were soon
humbled to realize that rather than us helping to
do anything noteworthy while we were in D.C.;
it was really this ancestor herself who began
bringing about a lot of positive things for Choctaw people. It happened in ways no one could
have conceived at the beginning of the trip:
The three federally recognized Choctaw
tribes have been separated since the Trail of
Tears. However, Aufaumatauba’s daughter
lived before this imposed separation and is potentially ancestral to all three groups. Because
of this, representatives from each of these
Choctaw tribes came to D.C. working together
as one. During this contact, a recurring topic of
discussion concerned the ways that the historic
preservation departments from the three tribes
can work to help each other on a variety of issues. Joint cultural activities were planned that
will continue to bring members from each of
these tribes together in the future.
Over the week, the Choctaw representatives
were allowed to view the Choctaw collections
in the National Museum of Natural History and
National Museum of the American Indian. We
saw and handled hundreds of non-burial Choctaw items made by our ancestors more than a century ago including blowguns, moccasins, bows,
arrows, pottery, baskets, beadwork, drums,
stickball sticks, baskets and much more. These
objects represent the traditional knowledge developed by our ancestors, and were an important part of their Choctaw identity. In viewing
these collections, a great deal of information
Iti Fabussa
Chief Pyle’s Physical Fitness Challenge
encourages healthy and active lifestyles
By Chrissy Dill
The annual Labor Day Festival held at the Choctaw Nation capitol grounds in Tushka
Homma is the site of many
exciting activities for all ages.
There is the promise of entertainment every year, and
everyone who attends has a
great time. The Chief Gregory
E. Pyle Physical Fitness Challenge gives kids from the ages
8 to 18 the opportunity to get
active and show off their physical abilities.
Jason Campbell created this
event four years ago, and each
year an average of 50-60 kids
participate. “We hope to increase that number this year,”
commented Jason. Jason is the
deputy director of the STAR
(Success Through Academic
Recognition) Program for the
Choctaw Nation, which is an
educational incentive program
for the Choctaw youth. With
the help of his fellow STAR
Program employees, Jason organizes the Chief Pyle Physical Fitness Challenge each
year.
The purpose behind the
physical fitness challenge is to
promote Chief Pyle’s mission
of encouraging healthy and
active lifestyles for everyone,
especially children.
“There’s so many activities
for the adults at Labor Day.
The physical fitness challenge
is another activity for the
kids,” explained Jason. The
challenge consists of sportsoriented activities, but is open
to everyone, not just sportslovers.
There are several activities
that make up the challenge.
The “most fun” event according to Jason is the 40-yard
dash. “Everyone seems to
talk about the 40-yard dash
and looks forward to it,” said
Jason. The kids are separated
into age groups and the boys
and girls are not separated.
Their 40-yard sprint is timed
on Choctaw
history and
traditional
lifeways was
shared
between
the
three Choctaw tribes and the Smithsonian staff, with everyone learning a tremendous amount about
the lives of our ancestors. Representatives from
Choctaw Nation formally documented many of
the pieces in these collections, making it possible for representatives from each of the Choctaw tribes to have hundreds of photographs and
other information to share with tribal members
back home.
During the visit, the Smithsonian staff informed the Choctaw representatives about the
programs and funding that could potentially
help our tribes to set up education programs to
strengthen our traditional culture and arts. They
also told us about the possibility of the Smithsonian loaning some of its Choctaw collections
to tribal museums such as at the Tushka Homma Capitol, so that more Choctaw people can
see these Choctaw national treasures. We were
additionally made aware of potential opportunities for other tribal representatives to one day
come to D.C. to study the Choctaw collections,
and of programs to assist budding Choctaw artists. Each of these has the potential to bring the
Smithsonian and the Choctaw tribes in mutually beneficial partnerships that could help both
well into the foreseeable future.
As we left Washington, D.C., we were humbled and amazed by all that Chief Aufaumatauba’s daughter had brought about for Choctaw
people living today ... She wasn’t done yet.
The reburial brought Choctaw Nation staff to
Alabama, and into cooperation with the MOWA
Band of Choctaw Indians, who still reside in the
state. Again, relationships were created there
that will help to bring Choctaws together into
the future.
Moreover, on our way to meet the MOWAs,
we had the opportunity to visit the Alabama
State Archives, in Montgomery, Ala. This collection houses the unpublished manuscripts of
Henry S. Halbert. In the late 1800s, Halbert
lived with the Mississippi Choctaw. He had a
strong interest in the Choctaw people, and spoke
Choctaw fluently. His manuscripts represent a
vast wealth of information for today’s Choctaw
people about our ancestors. This information,
given from the mouths of Choctaw elders a
and a winner is determined.
“There’s really an emphasis
put on your time,” said Jason.
The popular 40-yard dash is
there to stay, but there are some
activities that are improving
this year. In the past, the kids
competed in a vertical jump
contest, a long jump and a 20yard shuttle. These will be replaced with plyometric boxes
that measure jumping distance
and height. The kids will also
pull a “sled” to strengthen their
legs, and there will be hurtles
for them to leap.
“Plyometric exercises are
to improve the kids’ potential
to excel in sports, but we’re
not promoting just athletics,”
said Jason. “We are promoting
physical fitness.”
The Chief Pyle Physical
Fitness Challenge is another
C
effort by Chief Pyle and the
Choctaw Nation to promote
physical fitness. The Choctaw
Nation continues to encourage
the fight against obesity, diabetes and heart disease. “We’d
like to thank Chief Pyle and
the Choctaw Nation for their
support in this cause,” said Jason.
Registration for Chief Pyle’s
Physical Fitness Challenge is
5 p.m. Sept. 3 on the Council
Chambers Lawn at Tushka
Homma. The fitness challenge
begins at 6 p.m.
Jason and his friends in the
STAR Program encourage the
youth to participate in this
exciting event on Labor Day.
Each child that participates
and finishes the challenge will
receive a free T-shirt and jump
rope.
A
B
D
E
Labor Day
Festival
T-Shirts
& Souvenirs
Order Form
century ago, includes in-depth descriptions of
making and firing Choctaw pottery, Choctaws
bows and arrows, Choctaw baskets, a detailed
account of the way our ancestors used to plant
their different types of gardens and the plants
they put in each of them, recipes for many
traditional Choctaw foods written in Choctaw
and in English, funny stories, war stories, and
funny war stories that go back into the 1700s,
a complete muster role of the Choctaw soldiers
who fought under Chief Pushmataha in the
War of 1812, descriptions of ancient Choctaw
dances no-longer remembered in today’s communities, details on Choctaw house-building,
name-giving, time-keeping, child-rearing, and
much, much more. These unpublished manuscripts are arguably the best written source
on Choctaw traditional life in existence, and
there they sat in the Alabama State Archives!
We would not have seen these if it was not for
Chief Aufaumatauba’s daughter bringing us
through Montgomery.
Chief Aufaumatauba’s daughter passed from
this life at an early age, during one of the darkest points in Choctaw history. Her home was
overrun, her grave was desecrated, and her
remains shipped nearly 1,000 miles away and
put in storage for 140 years. In the summer of
2010, through her repatriation, this woman has
brought back a tremendous amount of information about Choctaw life to today’s Choctaw
communities, and has made the cultural departments of Choctaw tribes more aware of the
many opportunities for cooperation we have
with each other, and with other groups like the
Smithsonian staff. Her remains are back at rest
in a place that will be protected, but all of the
good things that her repatriation has brought
to light for Choctaw people will live on in upcoming generations.
Aufaumatauba imvllatek, nana moyoma ishmichi-tuka, eho-chi-yakoke. Chi-foni -yvt fohachi akinli!
Note – The Choctaw Nation Historic Preservation Department is already working on ways
of making the information on Choctaw history
and traditional life obtained at the Smithsonian
and at the Alabama Archives available and accessible to tribal people in Oklahoma, including possible publication. However, the sheer
volume and detail of this “new” information
will require quite some time to completely process. For more information, please call 1-800522-6170 ext. 2216.
13th Annual
Labor Day
POW WOW
September 3rd
The Choctaw Nation
Capitol Grounds
Tushka hoMma
The Line Up
MC- Tim Tallchief
Arena Director- Bill Takeshorse
Head Man- Cecil Gray
Head Woman- Rebecca Roberts
HEAD Gourd- Darrell Wildcat
Southern Drum- thunder hill
northern drum- dry creek
color gaurd- choctaw nation
The schedule
2 p.m. gourd Dance
5 p.m. Break
6 p.m. gourd dance
7 p.m. grand entry
registration closes
featuring
A - Waterproof drawstring backpack
with Seal - can be worn as a backpack or carried - $10.00
B - Labor Day Shirt - White - $15.00
C - Labor Day Shirt - Black - $15.00
D - Labor Day Cap - White - $12.00
E - Labor Day Cap - Black - $12.00
adult contest youth contest
Tiny Tots contest
Yellow
Blue
All Contestants must be in Grand Entry and participate in Inter-Tribal dances.
Must be in regalia to receive prize money.
To order, send payment (No Personal Checks)
with completed form to:
Labor Day T-Shirts
PO Box 1210
Durant OK 74702
For information: Willard Polk 580-924-8280
or Sue Folsom - Cultural Events 580-924-8280
Public welcome, free admission, bring your pow wow chairs.
All drums, princesses are invited.
Call Willard for booth information. Booth fee is $20.
NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS WILL BE TOLERATED
LABOR DAY
FESTIVAL
Concerts
September 3
through
September 5
Concerts
are free
Travis Tritt
Vince Gill
Bring your quilts and lawn chairs and enjoy the
Choctaw Nation’s exciting lineup this year!!!!
Jimmy Wayne
Stoney Larue
Friday, Sept. 3
5.30 p.m. Jimmy Wayne
7:00 p.m. Stoney Larue
9:00 p.m. Travis Tritt
Neal McCoy
Casting Crowns
Don’t miss any of the
great activities beginning
September 2 and running
through September 6 on
the Choctaw Nation
Capitol Grounds near
Tuskahoma, Oklahoma.
Crabb Revival
Saturday, Sept. 4
Sunday, Sept. 5
7:00 p.m. Neal McCoy
9:00 p.m. Vince Gill
800-522-6170 • www.choctawnation.com
7.30 p.m. Jason Crabb
Crabb Revival
Aaron &
Amanda Crabb
Mike & Jan Bowling
9:00 p.m. Casting Crowns
2010 Choctaw Nation Labor Day Schedule
Thursday, September 2
7 p.m.
Choctaw Nation Princess Pageant, Amphitheater
Entertainer: Joni Morris before and during the pageant
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Noon- 8 p.m.
10 a.m.
Noon-8 p.m.
Noon-5 p.m.
2 p.m.
5 p.m.
6 p.m.
6 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
Choctaw Nation Museum open
Photo ID booth open
Arts & Crafts exhibits open
Health Expo, next to Council Chambers
Quilt entries @ Information Center
Gourd Dancing on Capitol lawn
Registration for Chief Pyle Physical Fitness Challenge,
Council Chambers Lawn
Chief Pyle Physical Fitness Challenge,
Council Chambers Lawn, youth ages 8 -18
Concerts @ Amphitheater
Inter-Tribal Pow Wow Grand Entry, Capitol lawn
Fast Pitch Tournament at Red Warrior Park
Friday, September 3
Saturday, September 4
6:30 -7:45 a.m. 5k Registration at Hwy. 271
8 a.m.
5k Race begins at Hwy. 271
8 a.m.
Fast Pitch Tournament continues
8 a.m.
3 on 3 Choctaw War Hoops Basketball Registration
8 a.m.
Horseshoe Tournament Registration
8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Health Expo
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Youth Advisory Board Offers Crafts for youth, Playground
9 a.m.
Playground supervised
9 a.m.
Horseshoe Tournament
9 a.m.
Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament
9 a.m.
Quilt Show @ Information Center
9 a.m.
War Hoops 3-on-3 Basketball at Basketball Courts
10 a.m.-12 noon Buffalo Tours, load bus @ Museum
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
10 a.m.
7th Annual Choctaw Art Show, 2nd floor of Museum
10 a.m. -8 p.m. Photo ID Booth open
2 p.m.
Terrapin Races, Playground
2–4 p.m.
Buffalo Tours, load bus @ Museum
5 p.m.
Children’s Drama, Choctaw Village Amphitheater
(bring lawn chairs)
4 p.m.
Free-Throw Contest @ Basketball Courts
4:30 p.m.
Tough, Tough Choctaw Registration, Council Chambers
5 p.m.
3-Point Contest @ Basketball Courts
5:30 p.m.
Tough, Tough Contest, Council Chambers lawn
6 p.m.
Concerts @ Amphitheater
Sunday, September 5
8 a.m.
9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
10 a.m.
Noon-5 p.m.
Noon
Noon
Noon-7 p.m.
1 p.m.
1-3 p.m.
1:30-3:30 p.m.
2-4 p.m.
4 p.m.
5 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
9 p.m.
Fast Pitch Tournament continues
Youth Advisory Board Offers Crafts for youth, playground
Worship Services, tent behind amphitheater
Gospel Singing @ Amphitheater
Domino and Checker Tournament Registration, Cafeteria
Photo ID Booth open
Domino and Checker Tournament in Cafeteria
Education and Screening @ Health Expo
Choctaw Code Talker Association Board Meeting,
Council Chambers
No tent setups or
Buffalo Tours, load bus @ Museum
roping of areas
Choctaw Dancers, Capitol Lawn
on grounds until
August 27
Stickball Exhibition, Capitol Lawn
Crabb Revival @ Amphitheater
No dogs
Casting Crowns @ Amphitheater
Monday, September 6
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
10 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
Noon
allowed on
Capitol Grounds
except service
animals
Photo ID Booth open
Labor Day Official Ceremonies, Amphitheater
Posting of Flags - Choctaw Color Guard
The Lord’s Prayer in Sign Language
Storyteller Tim Tingle
Introduction of Tribal Council and Judges
State of the Nation Address by Chief Gregory E. Pyle
Door Prize Drawings
Free Meal for Everyone, Cafeteria
Pick up Quilts from Quilt Show
Events throughout the Festival
Carnival Rides Free, courtesy of Chief and Tribal Council;
Specialty Acts
Choctaw Village Schedule
Sunday, September 5 Saturday, September 4 10 a.m.
Choctaw Dancing
10:30 a.m. Stickball Skills
11 a.m.
Banaha Making
11:30 a.m. Storytelling
Children’s Activities
1 p.m.
Stickball
1:30 p.m. Language
1:45 p.m. Arts & Crafts
2:15 p.m. Choctaw Dancing
1 p.m.
Flint Napping
1:15 p.m. Silver Smithing
1:30 p.m. Primitive Weapons
1:45 p.m. Storytelling
Children’s Activities
2:15 p.m. Corn Game
2:40 p.m. Pottery
No drugs
or alcohol
allowed
on Capitol
Grounds

August 2010 - Choctaw Nation

Transcription

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